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Project snapshot

Drought Resistance Uganda (DRU) is a student-led initiative that has worked on various projects focused on addressing local challenges in rural Uganda. Past efforts have included UV-C water filtration systems, weather station maintenance, drought-resistant agriculture, and STEM education outreach. DRU was built on strong partnerships with local organizations such as the African STEM Education Initiative (ASEI) and the Love Mercy Foundation (LMF).

About ChallENG Student Project

Following their 2023 field trip to Uganda and continued dialogue with local partners, the team has shifted its focus to a community-centred handwashing initiative. Fieldwork revealed several persistent WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) challenges, including limited access to clean water, financial barriers to purchasing hygiene materials (such as soap and sanitary products), and water scarcity during droughts. Among these, the lack of consistent handwashing emerged as a major, yet often overlooked, contributor to disease.

To address this, DRU is collaborating with partners including ASEI and Mountains of the Moon University to co-develop a decision-making tool aimed at supporting local soap production. This tool will help community entrepreneurs identify soap recipes made from natural, locally available ingredients, tailored to their specific context, factoring in resource availability, cost, and user needs. Beyond this initiative, DRU contributes to broader WASH efforts by supporting ASEI’s work with rural schools and developing more education resources to promote positive WASH outcomes.

Find out more about DRU and its past trip by checking out this video: