Volunteering Tips
Volunteer Support: NGOs have an established presence in Uganda. They may offer you support in the form of housing, meals, transportation, and medical support. For additional support, contact your country’s embassy in Kampala. Ugandans themselves can be supportive, as well. For help with shopping and bargaining, household chores, religious activities, and entertainment, your best option is befriending locals!
NGOs/Nonprofit/Volunteer History in Uganda: Uganda is rife with both foreign and local NGOs. American and European NGOs are common, as are grass-roots Uganda groups that provide community support. Any and all of these posts would gladly accept volunteer assistance, as to many health centers, schools, orphanages and conservation authorities. For a list of registered NGOs in Uganda, please visit the Ugandan national Forum.
Know Before You Go: Internet cafes can be found in major cities, along with a post office. P.O. Boxes are available at all post offices. The mailing system is somewhat reliable but very slow: letters take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to arrive while packages take three weeks to three months. Cell phones are fairly cheap and very convenient to have. They cost as low as 65,000 UGX (about $25), but it’s recommended that you buy a new phone versus a used one, as used ones often do not work! The weather changes about every three months in Uganda, from dry to rainy, but temperature rarely drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Public transport is inexpensive and averages 5,000UGX for every 50 kms.
How Volunteering in Uganda Will Help Your Future: The experience you gain in Uganda will be unparalleled. Not only will you take home new skills, but you will have an understanding of how a different culture operates. You may not realize it at the time, but volunteering in Uganda will teach you tenacity, flexibility and independence as you’ve never seen them before!
How to Save Money While Volunteering: It is easy to save money while volunteering in Uganda. Housing and meals can be covered with a pittance, if you accept the rudimentary standards and local cuisine and traditions. Frequent trips to bigger cities, expensive foreign meals and luxuries, and private transportation will be drains on your pocketbook. Enjoy the adventure and live like a Ugandan!
Best Places to Volunteer: Kampala (the capital), Jinja, Gulu, Masaka, Mbarara, Mbale, and Arua. Many NGOs, such as Mango Tree and World Vision, have headquarters in Kampala, from which you can be placed in a more rural location. Be wary of local community-based organizations (CBOs) that require you to pay money up front.
Questions to Ask: What amenities will be available (running water, electricity, cook stove)? Is it rainy or dry season when I am arriving? What type of transportation will be available to me and for how much? How far will I be from the capital/airport? Are there other foreign volunteers where I am going? What will the average working day be like?
Health and Safety of Volunteers in Uganda
Health: No vaccinations are required for entry into Uganda, unless you are arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or the Americas. However, volunteers are encouraged to be up-to-date on their childhood immunizations (MMR, Hepatitis A & B, Polio), along with receiving vaccinations for typhoid, yellow fever, rabies and tetanus. Volunteers will also need to take a malaria prophylaxis during and after their stay in Uganda. Tap water should be avoided in all circumstances, as traveler’s diarrhea is a legitimate threat; come prepared with anti-diarrheal medicine. Volunteers should also steer clear of stagnant bodies of water, due to the risk of contracting schistosomiasis. For more information, please visit MD Travel Health.
Safety Concerns: As with many countries around the world, the biggest safety concerns are theft and reckless driving. Keep money and valuables hidden in different locations on your person. A heavy padlock is necessary for your home or bedroom door. Even though a volunteer’s desire for physical activity may become overbearing, running on the roads is not recommended. Pedestrians rarely have the right-of-way, and motorcycles (bodas), cars, busses and trucks compete to overtake each other. If you are taking public transportation, do not be afraid to demand that the driver slow down! Travel in groups when possible and avoid being out after dark.
Visas for Volunteering in Uganda
A single-entry tourist visa, valid for three months from the date of arrival, can be obtained at airport immigration for US $50. For US $100, a multiple-entry visa can be obtained, valid for six months from the date of arrival. Work visas and temporary East African residency can also be obtained through the Ugandan Embassy in your home country. For more information, please visit VISA HQ.
