KAMPALA, Uganda — The Dettol Hygiene Quest Program has launched its second phase, integrating an innovative AI-powered chatbot to help teachers monitor hygiene practices and scale up handwashing in schools across Uganda.
Funded by Reckitt, the manufacturer of Dettol, and implemented by Chil Femtech Limited, the expanded program coincides with Global Handwashing Day 2025. It is designed to use digital technology to reduce student absenteeism caused by preventable waterborne diseases.
“Today marks the beginning of the phase two of the Dettol Hygiene Quest Program,” said Dr. Shamim Nabuuma, CEO of Chil Femtech, at the launch. She introduced the key technological advancement: the Dettol Hygiene Quest chatbot.
The chatbot functions as a digital assistant, enabling teachers to plan hygiene lessons, accurately track student attendance, and monitor hygiene behavior in real-time. This digital shift aims to make the program more efficient and data-driven.
Dr. Nabuuma noted that the first phase of the program already reached 750 schools and constructed 1,500 hand-washing facilities across the country.
Reckitt Country Director Boniface Shaka affirmed the company’s commitment to social good. “Access to hygiene is not a privilege—it is a basic right for every child,” he stated. Shaka highlighted that the program has already impacted 450,000 children in 2025.
State Minister for Karamoja Affairs Florence Namboozo commended the use of technology, stressing that the AI data should be utilized for effective decision-making by district authorities to sustain the gains.
The Ministry of Education, represented by Commissioner Dr. Safinah Kisu Museene, also praised the digital shift. “The introduction of the Dettol Hygiene Quest chatbot has brought a new dimension of digital innovation to our education system,” Dr. Museene remarked.
The second phase will expand into new districts, including Gulu, Lira, Sironko, and Kampala, with a focus on using the new technology for robust hygiene monitoring and long-term sustainability.
