Jinja — Burugo Primary School from Jinja District has been crowned the national champion of the inaugural Dettol Hygiene Quest Festival, an initiative that uses Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) to promote hygiene and healthy practices among schoolchildren.
The national competition attracted 159 primary schools from across Uganda, with 25 schools qualifying for the grand finale, where participants showcased performances centred on sanitation, handwashing and disease prevention.
Burugo Primary School emerged as the overall winner after impressing judges with its creative presentation and commitment to promoting hygiene. The school received a token of appreciation in recognition of its achievement.
The festival was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, district local government leaders and representatives of non-governmental organisations, who highlighted the role of creative learning approaches in improving health and education outcomes.
Dr Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chil AI Lab and Focal Person for the Dettol Hygiene Quest Uganda, said the competition had demonstrated the effectiveness of using the performing arts to encourage positive behavioural change among learners.
“By using Music, Dance and Drama, we have seen students move beyond rote learning to internalise hygiene as part of their cultural identity. The creativity displayed by Burugo Primary School and all our finalists proves that when we engage children through the arts, the message of health resonates deeply and effectively,” Dr Kaliisa said.
She said the success of the inaugural festival had encouraged organisers to expand the initiative in future editions.
“The success of this year’s festival proves that our children are the best ambassadors for change. We are committed to bringing this platform back next year bigger and bolder to ensure that the culture of health through music, dance and drama continues to inspire every school across Uganda,” she added.
The Dettol Hygiene Quest is supported by Reckitt, the manufacturer of Dettol, Jik and other consumer health and hygiene products.
Organisers said the programme combines classroom learning with creative arts and digital innovation to strengthen hygiene education in schools. As part of the initiative, Chil AI Lab has developed the Dettol Hygiene Quest AI Chatbot to complement community-based awareness campaigns and support hygiene learning.
According to the organisers, the programme aims to reduce hygiene-related absenteeism in schools while equipping learners with lifelong health practices through engaging and participatory education.