Climate
The temperatures in Kampala are between 17° Celsius (at night) and 30°C (in the day.) The country is beautifully green and there are many flowers. In our region there is regular rainfall all year round. In the north, the closer you get to the border of Sudan, it is dry and dusty, and that’s where we preach the gospel, heal the sick, help practically, and are building churches.
Food and health
You can cook for yourself or share the Ugandan cuisine with us. We always have meals together. Despite a varied diet, it is an advantage to bring vitamin supplement tablets with you.
Malaria
In Uganda there are mosquitos that can transmit malaria, they only become active at dusk and at night. We have mosquito nets above the beds, which provide optimal protection. Sprays such as NoBite or Antibrumm are recommended, long-sleeved T-shirts and trousers also protect against bites in the evening.
There are several possibilities of malaria prophylaxis. Check with a tropical doctor who can give you the best advice. For a stay of at least 2 months, most volunteers do not take any prophylaxis, as strong side effects can occur. You can also drink artimesia tea, which is also preventive. It is a purely herbal tea (therefore no side effects), and you can drink one cup a day. It is worthwhile buying a pack at home, but you can also buy it here. However, if you still suffer from malaria, there is no need to worry. There are good clinics and doctors in Kampala and the treatments here are very effective.
Vaccinations: There are no longer compulsory vaccinations for Uganda. We recommend yellow fever, the triple vaccination polio 7diphtheria / tetanus and also hepatitis A and B. However, please make sure you check with your doctor first, he/she will be happy to help you and then you can decide for yourself.
Health insurance
Medical expenses are very low here, but we do not accept anyone who has not taken out foreign health insurance before coming. Please ask carefully, many credit cards (Master Card, Visa…) have international health insurance included and sometimes your normal health insurance is sufficient and you don’t need any additional cover.
Clothing
Africans are very well dressed. Women only wear skirts and t-shirts or blouses. Men wear jeans or suit trousers with short-sleeved shirts. This is not a must, but it is welcome, especially when ministring in church. Avoid spaghetti straps or low-cut décolletés. Skirts and shorts should never be shorter than knee-length.
Cash
The currency in Uganda is the Uganda shilling. The best thing to do is to bring cash in euros (large bills) which can be exchanged in the banks of Kampala. If you bring US dollars, make sure that you have new notes (issued after 2001) and only notes from $50, — (the rate of exchange is worse with smaller notes!) The only credit cards accepted are VISA, but then only to withdraw money at banks. They can currently only be used for payment in large hotels. Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged, but have a much worse exchange rate than cash! With about 100€ pocket money per month you can live well here, but you should allow for extra money if you plan to bring home souvenirs.
Computers & Internet
There is a computer available but if you are coming for a long time, please bring your own laptop with you.
Electricity
The mains voltage in Uganda is 220V, but different sockets are used than in Europe. A travel adapter is therefore helpful, but can also be purchased here at a reasonable price. We have a lot of power cuts, so bring a good flashlight or torch with you.
Visas
You need a visa if you want to enter Uganda. You can easily get it at the airport in Entebbe before you pick up your luggage. The visa costs 50 US dollars or 40 euros (which you should have in your hand luggage) and is valid for 3 months. Alternatively, you can apply for a visa in advance at the respective embassy/consulate in your home country, which is often even cheaper. For the following months you will need a work permit. This costs 250 US dollars. More detailed information regarding the necessary documents etc. will be sent to you when your application has been accepted. You can also arrange things when you’re in the country.
Airline tickets
The most important airlines from Central Europe to Uganda (Antebbe Airport) are: Emirates, British Airways, KLM, Egypt Air, Ethiopia Airlines, SN Brussels Airlines. Fares vary between €650 and €900 for short term flights and €800 to €1,200 for annual flights, depending on the route and departure point. Ask for youth tickets or missionary tickets if possible! Most of the time you can take 40 kg of luggage with you.
If you are here for a longer period of time, you can go on excursions or a safari with us or with an official tour operator. (3 days cost approx. 300 Euro)