CINAT Group has strengthened its commitment to corporate social responsibility by joining the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) Alumni Association of Uganda as the Strategic PR and Media partner for the Clean SIP Campaign, the fellowship’s initiative to commemorate this year’s Mandela Day.
The campaign seeks to improve access to safe drinking water for nearly 3,000 learners in selected schools across Jinja District through the installation of ceramic water filtration systems. By addressing one of the leading causes of waterborne diseases among school-going children, the initiative aims to create healthier learning environments, improve school attendance, and contribute to better educational outcomes.
The Clean SIP Campaign reflects Nelson Mandela's enduring legacy of service while advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
As the campaign's Strategic PR and media partner, CINAT Group under its CINAT’s Advertising subsidiary is leading integrated media, public relations, and public awareness efforts aimed at mobilizing citizens, businesses, development partners, civil society organizations, and government institutions to support the initiative in preparation for the Nelson Mandela Day on 18th July 2026 by contributing a ceramic water purifier for every school in Jinja district.
Speaking during the press conference on the launch of the Clean SIP campaign today at Reach a Hand Africa’s offices in Lungujja where the Mandela day celebration activities launch was held, Mr. Katende Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of CINAT Group, said the partnership reflects the company's belief that businesses have a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to society beyond commercial success. As the parent company of CINAT Advertising, CINAT Logistics, and CINAT Technologies, we are committed to creating meaningful social impact in the communities we serve.
Jackson further explained that nurturing people, ideas, and communities is one of CINAT Group's core values, making the partnership with the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association a natural extension of its corporate social responsibility mission.
He noted that CINAT Group has cultivated a strong working relationship with the Fellowship Alumni over the years and considers it both a privilege and a responsibility to support initiatives that improve people's lives. “Whenever opportunities arise to create positive social change, we believe it is our responsibility to contribute. Through CINAT Advertising, our role is to ensure that important messages reach the people who need them most because awareness is often the first step towards lasting change.”
Despite Jinja's reputation as the source of the River Nile, Mr. Katende observed that access to clean and safe drinking water remains a challenge in many schools and communities. Many people assume that because the River Nile begins in Jinja, everyone has access to safe water. Research tells a different story. Access to water does not automatically mean access to clean and safe drinking water. This is a challenge that requires collective action.
Also addressing the media, Mr. Don Patrick Bugingo, the president of the Mandela Washington Alumni underscored the life-changing impact that access to clean drinking water has on children's health and education and therefore making it more than a basic necessity. It is the foundation for health, education, and opportunity. He explained that thousands of learners continue to suffer from preventable illnesses such as diarrhea and typhoid due to contaminated drinking water, affecting both their health and academic performance. The introduction of ceramic water filtration systems, he said, offers schools a sustainable and affordable solution that significantly improves the quality of drinking water available to learners.
Mr. Bugingo highlighted that the benefits extend beyond improved health as children who have access to clean drinking water are healthier, attend school more consistently, and are better able to concentrate in class. For girls in particular, safer school environments contribute to greater confidence, dignity, and educational achievement. He described the Clean SIP Campaign as a movement driven by generosity, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
According to Mr. Bugingo, the initiative is strengthened by the extensive network of more than 300 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni across Uganda, whose leadership and community engagement continue to drive the campaign's implementation and outreach. Appealing to individuals, companies, development partners, civil society organizations, and government agencies, he encouraged them to support the campaign through the Power of One initiative, where a contribution of UGX 100,000 provides a ceramic water filtration unit capable of supplying safe drinking water to approximately 100 learners.
By combining the power of strategic communication, collaborative partnerships, and community engagement, the company hopes to inspire a national movement that ensures every child has access to one of life's most fundamental needs: clean and safe drinking water.
As Nelson Mandela once observed, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.” Through the Clean SIP Campaign, that difference will be measured in healthier children, stronger schools, and communities.
