In a country where many sanitation programs fade after funding stops, something remarkable is happening. Ugandan primary schools are stepping up—turning a corporate-led hygiene drive into a grassroots movement.
Over 750 schools have participated in Dettol Hygiene Quest, a sanitation initiative by Reckitt, makers of Dettol and Jik. But the program’s true success lies beyond numbers. It’s in the mindset shift it has created.
Schools across Uganda are now independently purchasing hygiene products, maintaining handwashing stations, and weaving sanitation into their core operations—even after the program’s support ends.
A New Culture of Responsibility
“Hand washing should not be seen as the responsibility of external support alone,” said Dr. Shamim Nabuuma, Uganda’s focal person for the initiative.
“Schools must find ways to sustain hygiene practices beyond the lifespan of the program—and that is precisely what we are fostering.”
Rather than relying on handouts, more than 100 schools have now taken ownership. They’ve started budgeting for Dettol soap, handwashing basins, and related supplies—many even sourcing directly from suppliers.
This marks a notable departure from the typical cycle where health programs collapse once donors pull out.
Leading By Example: Stories of Change
St. Joseph’s Primary School in Ishongororo is a prime example. After participating in Dettol Hygiene Quest, the school formally integrated hand hygiene into its policy—and began allocating part of its budget to continue buying Dettol soap.
Meanwhile, Honest Model Primary School in Ibanda District has embraced the change wholeheartedly.
“Since Dettol Hygiene Quest was introduced, our students are more aware of hygiene,” said teacher Catherine Atuhaire.
“We saw the value and decided to continue purchasing soap on our own to maintain the momentum.”
These stories reflect a wider transformation: hygiene is no longer a bonus—it’s becoming a non-negotiable part of school life.
Building a Self-Reliant Hygiene Movement
Reckitt and the Dettol Hygiene Quest team continue to support this transition. They are working with education officials and health leaders to track progress, offer training, and celebrate schools showing true commitment to sustainable hygiene.
What started as a CSR campaign is now nurturing institutional accountability and long-term behavioral change—one school at a time.
The bigger picture? A generation of Ugandan children growing up in schools that don’t just teach cleanliness but live it daily.
And as more schools follow suit, the legacy of Dettol Hygiene Quest may prove far more lasting than even Reckitt expected.
