Additional Info

CLIMATE

Even though Uganda is situated on the equator, it has numerous climate zones depending on elevation. The mountains are generally cool, while the lowland regions remain warm throughout the year. Temperatures average about 26°C/79°F during the day and 16°C/61°F at night. The hottest months are from December to February. There are two rainy seasons, one from March to May and the other from October to November.

HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS

We will be staying at the Kolping House in Kampala http://kolpingguesthouses-africa.com/uganda/kampala/ and 1-2 nights in Jinja. Kolping House is a walled compound with security guards and watchdogs to ensure security. The Kolping House does not have AC but every room will have a fan.

ELECTRIC CURRENT

Uganda’s electrical power is distributed at 220 volts cycling at 50 Hz with flat plugs. Check over the electrical devices you’re planning to bring. Many of them can handle both 120/60 and 220/50 and do not need voltage converters. Hair dryers are usually not adaptable and require a converter that can provide sufficient wattage.

Note that there are “adaptors” and “converters”. Adaptors are passive devices that allow your plug to fit into the local outlets. Converters are active devices that transform voltage levels.

LANGUAGE

English is the official language in Uganda. Lugandan (in the south) and Acholi (in the north) are widely spoken and we will mostly likely be using translators when we travel into smaller and more remote places.

FOOD

The local diet contains a lot of starchy foods and many dishes are fried. Rice, beans, Posho (millet mash), potatoes, Matoke, etc. – starch, starch and more starch. Kolping house has a variety of food ranging from local African dishes to grilled cheese sandwiches and pork chops. When eating in the villages it is recommended to be polite and eat what you can, however some of the food is of noticeably poor quality. We depend on our bodies to carry us through our tasks but we also need to respect those we have come to serve.

ETIQUETTE

Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Casual dress is considered appropriate in the daytime and evening. Etiquette is important at meals. When a meal is ready, all the members of the household wash their hands and sit on floor mats or at a table if available. Often a bowl of water is available after the meal to wash hands again. Visitors and neighbors who drop in are expected to join the family at a meal. Normally a short prayer is said before the family starts eating. During the meal, children talk only when asked questions. It is considered impolite to leave the room while others are eating. When the meal is finished, it is polite to compliment to the cook.

SECURITY

Here are some tips for carrying cash & valuables: try not to appear wealthy, only carry what is necessary for that day, remove all excess materials, and carry your money on the front side of your body. It is required that you have a money belt or document pouch, which is worn around your neck or under your clothing to store your money and important papers. These are readily available at travel stores and wilderness outfitters. Bring a lock so that you can lock your suitcase while you are out of your room.

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Phone Calls: You will receive a family information packet with contact numbers, our itinerary and other information for our trip. Team leaders will be carrying cell phones that will be available in the event of an emergency. Shortly after we arrive, we will have a cell number that your family can use for contact at designated times and for emergencies at home.

Because this is an outreach trip rather than a vacation, we encourage you to let go of home issues and focus on our work. In any case, you should not make promises with friends and family that you will be in touch frequently by phone or by email as this is not likely possible. If you have a cell phone you hope to use during the trip, or a calling card from your telephone service provider, please call your service provider before the trip to learn whether these are operational in Uganda and what special instructions you might need.

Internet: Internet is available at Kolping House but it is very slow and tempermental. We will visit Internet cafes a few times during the trip where the service is slightly better and the price is reasonable. Internet services are not readily available in villages.

REQUESTS FOR MONEY, GIFTS OR PERSONAL INFORMATION

It is culturally normal in most developing nations, or the poor areas of other nations, for the locals to request donations of money and gifts from travelers. Often, they will request your personal contact information (telephone and email) so they can continue to request donations. As a team member, how you handle these requests affects the whole team and other teams that may be coming in the future, so we ask you to adhere to the following policies:

Please refrain from giving out money and to be selective when giving out personal contact information. Sometimes the team will have an opportunity to give an offering to those we are serving, which will be administered by the local leaders. We also sometimes do likewise for our translators and others who have served the team faithfully (drivers for example).

When requested for personal contact information, you can provide them with our Ugandan Water Project website (ugandanwaterproject.com) if you wish.

If a Team Member is moved with compassion to make a donation to an individual or for a specific local cause, we ask that they discuss this with the Ugandan Water Project team leadership who will consult with the local leadership.

It is important to understand that the tendency to ask for support is culturally normal, and should not be viewed as wrong or bad behavior on their part. In the long term, these individual gifts can hinder our greater goal of empowering the Ugandan people and equipping their communities to be self-sustaining.

TRAVELING AROUND UGANDA

We typically travel by taxi van or small bus (locally referred to as a Coaster). These vehicles tend to be more cramped that what we are used to and are rarely air conditioned. Be prepared for extended time on bumpy roads, waiting in traffic, driving in very crowded conditions (inside the van and outside) as well as unexpected problems with the vehicles (maintenance is poor). Our drivers have served us well over the years and have become our friends – we are traveling in good hands.

Ugandan Water Project