Professional Documents
Culture Documents
UGANDA
A P E A C E C O R P S P U B L I C ATI O N
FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
August 2008
A W E L C O M E L E T TE R
Greetings from Kampala! On behalf of the staff and Volunteers of
Peace Corps/Uganda, let me say that we are very pleased that you
are considering an invitation to join us as a Volunteer. You will join a
group of more than 1,000 former Volunteers who have responded to
the invitation to serve in Uganda.
This is an exciting time to be in Uganda. The primary education
system is stretched to the breaking point in a committed effort to
provide universal primary education to the countrys children. The
HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has hit Uganda hard, is entering a new
phase as people gain access to HIV/AIDS drugs and strive to find
ways to live with the disease in hope, rather than in despair. As you
can imagine, these issues are both frustrating and challenging for
Ugandans. But with challenges come opportunities, and as Peace
Corps works in these two areas of great need in Uganda, we have
many opportunities to make a difference.
As former Volunteers will tell you, the rewards of the hard work
you invest and the benefits of your experience will far outweigh the
inevitable frustrations and challenges you will encounter. If you decide
to come to Uganda, you will be making an important commitment,
one not only fraught with difficulties but also rich with joy. A two-year
commitment to the Peace Corps, and to the people of a community
in Uganda, is not to be made casually. You must make it and remake
it in numerous ways throughout your two years of service. You will be
challenged in ways imaginable and unimaginable, and your patience
will be tried to its limits. But if you come here with an open mind,
a warm heart, a good sense of humor, a willingness to evaluate and
adjust your expectations, and a focus on the needs of others rather
than your own, you will do well. The Peace Corps trainers and staff
members are here to help you, but you will be the primary architect
and judge of your experience as a Volunteer. We offer you this
opportunity to serve the people of Uganda and to have an experience
that will change the way you look at the world and at yourself.
McGrath Jean Thomas
Country Director
TA B L E O F C O NTE NTS
Map of Uganda
A Welcome Letter 1
Packing List 79
Pre-departure Checklist 91
8 PEACE CORPS
and newsletters, or you may work with community groups
to support income-generating activities for youth affected by
HIV/AIDS. The list of potential activities is endless.
10 PEACE CORPS
variety of HIV/AIDS prevention and care interventions. In all
assignments, Volunteers are prepared through pre-service
training to encourage their partner organizations to either:
1) incorporate a full range of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and
treatment services, or 2) to actively seek out and use local
referral opportunities to ensure all individuals and families
receive necessary services.
Government
Economy
14 PEACE CORPS
product has averaged a growth rate of 6.3 percent since 1992.
16 PEACE CORPS
and cutting them off from economic opportunities. As a
Peace Corps Volunteer, you will confront these issues on a
very personal level. It is important to be aware of the high
emotional toll that disease, death, and violence can have on
Volunteers. As you strive to integrate into your community,
you will develop relationships with local people who might
die during your service. Because of the AIDS pandemic,
some Volunteers will be regularly meeting with HIV-positive
people and working with training staff, office staff, and host
family members living with AIDS. Volunteers need to prepare
themselves to embrace these relationships in a sensitive and
positive manner. Likewise, malaria and malnutrition, motor
vehicle accidents and other unintentional injuries, domestic
violence, and corporal punishment are problems a Volunteer
may confront. You will need to anticipate these situations and
utilize supportive resources available throughout your training
and service to maintain your own emotional strength so you
can continue to be of service to your community.
Environment
www.countrywatch.com
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in
Kampala to how to convert from the dollar to the shilling.
Just click on Uganda and go from there.
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any
country in the world.
www.state.gov
The U.S. State Departments website periodically issues
background notes about countries around the world. Find
Uganda and learn more about its social and political history.
www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
This online world atlas includes maps and geographical
information, and each country page contains links to
other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain
comprehensive historical, social, and political background.
www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical
information for member states of the U.N.
www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and
historical information about countries around the world.
www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made
up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to
the Web pages of the friends of groups for most countries
of service, made up of former Volunteers who served in those
countries. There are also regional groups who frequently get
together for social events and local Volunteer activities. The
Uganda site is at www.friendsofuganda.org.
www.peacecorpswriters.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers.
It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer
accounts of their Peace Corps service.
20 PEACE CORPS
Online Articles/Current News Sites About Uganda
www.buganda.com
Offers a wealth of information about the central Buganda area
of Uganda
www.unaids.org
Thorough information about the AIDS pandemic from the
United Nations
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa
Headlines about Africa from the BBC (search for Uganda)
http://allafrica.com
Search for news about Uganda
www.csmonitor.com
Christian Science Monitor allows you to search for stories on
Uganda.
www.worldbank.org/afr/ug/
Information on the World Banks projects in Uganda
www.africaaction.org/index.php
Site of the U.S.-based organization Africa Action, which works
for political, economic, and social justice in Africa
www.bellanet.org/
Bellanet helps the international community collaborate more
effectively, especially by use of information technology.
22 PEACE CORPS
Books on the Volunteer Experience
1. Banerjee, Dillon. So You Want to Join the Peace
Corps: What to Know Before You Go. Berkeley, Calif.:
Ten Speed Press, 2000.
Mail
Few countries in the world offer the level of service considered
normal in the United States. If you expect U.S. standards for
mail service, you will be in for some frustration. Letters take a
minimum of two weeks to arrive in Uganda if sent by airmail,
packages even longer. Packages sent by surface mail usually
take between one and two months. Some mail may simply not
arrive (this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen).
Advise your friends and family to number their letters for
tracking purposes and to write Airmail and Par Avion on
their envelopes. If someone sends you a package, it is best to
keep it small and use a padded envelope so it will be treated as
a letter. Valuables should not be sent through the mail.
Telephones
You will have limited access to e-mail during training.
Almost every Uganda Peace Corps Volunteer has a cellphone.
Network coverage varies depending on where you are assigned,
but networks are continuously expanding. Some volunteers
find difficulty charging their phones, but volunteers always find
a way to communicate with family, fellow volunteers and Peace
Corps staff. Incoming calls on cellphones are free, but outgoing
calls, especially those to America, are very expensive. Advise
your family and friends in America to use phonecards.
During your service, you will most likely live in a rural area
in very modest accommodations provided by your host
organization, which will try to provide you with at least
26 PEACE CORPS
a bedroom and a sitting room. You might live in part of a
Ugandan familys house or in part of a house built for staff of
a school or community organization. It is unlikely that you
will share your accommodations with anyone else unless you
choose to do so.
You will buy your food from outdoor markets or small shops,
and you will generally cook for yourself. The local diet is basic
but healthy, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, starches,
and meats. There are likely to be some local food restaurants
28 PEACE CORPS
at or near your site. Imported foods, while expensive, can be
found in larger towns and serve as a great treat. During
training, there will be sessions on safe food preparation and
proper nutrition. It is relatively easy to follow a vegetarian diet
in Uganda after one becomes familiar with the local food. Most
Ugandans will not be prepared to serve a vegetarian meal
if you are a guest in their home, but will generally accept a
sensitive explanation of your dietary preferences.
Transportation
Social Activities
30 PEACE CORPS
that are dirty, have holes in them, or are too revealing sends
the message that the people you are interacting with are not
worth greater care. Dressing in neat, clean, and conservative
clothes, on the other hand, can ease your integration into your
new community and enhance your professional credibility and
effectiveness.
Personal Safety
32 PEACE CORPS
might work for months without seeing any visible impact from,
or without receiving feedback on, your work. Development is a
slow process. You must possess the self-confidence, patience,
and vision tempered with humility and the resulting respect
for others to continue working toward long-term goals
without seeing immediate results.
You will review your technical sectors goals and will meet
with the Ugandan agencies and organizations that invited
the Peace Corps to assist them. You will be supported and
evaluated throughout the training to build the confidence and
skills you need to undertake your project activities and be a
productive member of your community.
36 PEACE CORPS
Ugandan organization. Remember, while you are a Volunteer
for Peace Corps, you should consider yourself a professional
staff member of the organization with which you are placed.
Language Training
Cross-Cultural Training
As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a
Ugandan host family. This experience will ease your transition
to life at your site. Families go through an orientation
conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the purpose of
pre-service training and to assist them in helping you adapt
to living in Uganda. Many Volunteers form strong and lasting
friendships with their host families.
Health Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical
training and information. You will be expected to practice
preventive healthcare and to take responsibility for your
own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are
required to attend all medical sessions. The topics include
preventive health measures and minor and major medical
issues you may encounter while in Uganda. Nutrition, mental
health, safety and security, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and
other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are also covered.
Safety Training
During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to
adopt a lifestyle that reduces your risks at home, at work, and
during your travels. You will also learn how to set up a safe
living compound, as well as appropriate, effective strategies
for coping with unwanted attention and about your individual
responsibility for promoting safety throughout your service.
38 PEACE CORPS
In-service training: Provides an opportunity for
Volunteers to upgrade their technical, language,
and project development skills while sharing their
experiences and reaffirming their commitment after
having served for three to six months.
Midterm training: Assists Volunteers in reviewing
their first year, reassessing their personal and project
objectives, and planning for their second year of
service.
Close of service conference: Prepares Volunteers
for the future after Peace Corps service and reviews
Volunteers respective projects and personal
experiences.
The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary
inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy.
Upon your arrival in Uganda, you will receive a medical
handbook. At the end of training, you will receive a medical
kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first aid
needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter.
42 PEACE CORPS
to the standards of the United States. The most important of
your responsibilities in Uganda is to take preventive measures
for the following:
AIDS and other STDs are far more common in Uganda than
in the United States. Abstinence is the only certain choice for
preventing infection with HIV and other STDs. You are taking
risks if you choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a
condom every time you have sex. Whether your partner is a
host country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not
assume this person is free of HIV/AIDS or other STDs. You will
receive more information from the medical officer about this
important issue.
44 PEACE CORPS
Medical Kit Contents
Ace bandages
Adhesive tape
Antacid tablets (Tums)
Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B)
Anti malarial medication
Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens)
Band-Aids
Butterfly closures
Cepacol lozenges
Condoms
Dental floss
Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl)
First Aid & Safety Handbook
Hydrocortisone cream
Ibuprofen 400 mg tabs
Insect repellent
Iodine tablets (for water purification)
Lip balm (Chapstick)
Oral rehydration salts
Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)
Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed)
Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough)
Scissors
Sterile gauze pads
Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)
Tinactin (antifungal cream)
Tylenol 325mg tabs
Tweezers
If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your
physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office
of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update
your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant
has recommended you undergo dental treatment or repair,
you must complete that work and make sure your dentist
sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the Office
of Medical Services.
46 PEACE CORPS
If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you a pair and
a spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace it, using
the information your doctor in the United States provided on
the eyeglasses form during your examination. We discourage
you from using contact lenses during your service to reduce
the risk of developing a serious infection or other eye disease.
Most Peace Corps countries do not have appropriate water
and sanitation to support eye care with the use of contact
lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply or replace contact
lenses or associated solutions unless an ophthalmologist has
recommended their use for a specific medical condition and the
Peace Corps Office of Medical Services has given approval.
48 PEACE CORPS
Absence of others: Assaults usually occurred when the
Volunteer was unaccompanied. In 82 percent of the
sexual assaults the Volunteer was unaccompanied and
in 55 percent of physical assaults the Volunteer was
unaccompanied.
Relationship to assailant: In most assaults, the
Volunteer did not know the assailant.
Consumption of alcohol: Forty percent of all assaults
involved alcohol consumption by Volunteers and/or
assailants.
50 PEACE CORPS
for all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure the
Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as needed.
After assuring the safety of the Volunteer, Peace Corps staff
provides support by reassessing the Volunteers work site
and housing arrangements and making any adjustments,
as needed. In some cases, the nature of the incident may
necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps staff will
also assist Volunteers with preserving their rights to pursue
legal sanctions against the perpetrators of a crime. It is very
important that Volunteers report incidents as they occur, not
only to protect their fellow Volunteers, but also to preserve
the future right to prosecute. Should Volunteers decide later
in the process that they want to proceed with the prosecution
of an assailant, this option may no longer exist if the evidence
of the event has not been preserved.
52 PEACE CORPS
When anticipating Peace Corps Volunteer service, you should
review all of the safety and security information provided,
including strategies to reduce risk. Throughout your training
and Volunteer service, you will be expected to successfully
complete all training competencies in a variety of areas,
including safety and security. Once in-country, use the tools
and information shared with you to remain as safe and secure
as possible.
54 PEACE CORPS
In the recent past, Kampala has had its own particular risks
as the site of infrequent rebel activities, which are otherwise
restricted to the far north or west. They have taken the form
of small-scale attacks in busy, populated areas. Although no
Volunteers have been harmed in these attacks, the potential
for harm exists, and the Peace Corps program in Uganda
was suspended in 1999 as a result of such attacks. With the
programs reopening in 2001, several program changes were
made to enhance Volunteer safety and the sustainability of the
program as a whole. One of these changes is that Volunteers
placed outside of Kampala may not travel to Kampala without
an official reason and without prior approval from their
associate Peace Corps director or Peace Corps medical officer.
56 PEACE CORPS
Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and
security issues in Uganda. This training will prepare you to
adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment
that promotes safety and reduces risk in your home, at work,
and while traveling. Safety training is offered throughout
service and is integrated into the language, cross-cultural,
health, and other components of training.
60 PEACE CORPS
worldwide. While approximately 80 percent of Volunteers
are caucasian between 21 and 30 years of age, Peace Corps
worldwide continues to attract an increasingly more diverse
group of Americans to assist us in demonstrating an ever
more realistic portrait of America to Ugandans.
Volunteer Comments
62 PEACE CORPS
by Ugandans and South Asian residents of Uganda during the
period of British colonialism.
64 PEACE CORPS
While this section on diversity may be unsettling to some of
you, we want you to be prepared for the many challenges you
are about to face. Know that non-stereotypical Volunteers
have had excellent experiences in Uganda. Ultimately, only
you can shape your time in Uganda as a Volunteer, but Peace
Corps/Uganda is here to support you along the way.
68 PEACE CORPS
If you wish, you may contact your own insurance company;
additionally, insurance application forms will be provided,
and we encourage you to consider them carefully. You should
not ship or take items overseas that you are not prepared to
lose. Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, computers, ipods, dvd
players, and expensive appliances are subject to loss, theft,
and breakage, and, in many places, satisfactory maintenance
and repair services are not available. There is a safe at the
Peace Corps office where you can store small valuables like
money, passports, and credit cards.
70 PEACE CORPS
chosen to purchase cellphones in Uganda during pre-service
training. A phone from America has to be an unlocked phone
and volunteers should check specifics of any phone for
international capabilities.
74 PEACE CORPS
You will have access to the best staff in the world! The staff
at Peace Corps/Uganda is dedicated to making your stay in
Uganda as comfortable as possible. Plus, you will have your
fellow Volunteers who will be there for you whenever and for
whatever.
Well, I think Ive said enough. I dont want to give away
all the surprises! Once again, welcome to Peace Corps and
welcome to Uganda. See you soon!
Paul T. Babcock
76 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
For Women
Three basic below-the-knee skirts (cotton skirts are
great)
One or two pairs of gouchos or capris for bike riding
and fieldwork
Four short-sleeved (not sleeveless) tops (tank tops can
be worn underneath if desired)
One below-the-knee dress for special occasions
One or two pairs of slacks (jeans are hard to wash and
dry)
One or two pairs of longer shorts for sports or running/
jogging (soccer shorts are an appropriate length)
Cotton t-shirts
Good supply of underwear cotton is good, but
don't get 100 percent make sure they have a little
spandex or they will stretch a little more each time you
handwash them.
Good supply of durable bras (it's hard to find good
ones), and a few pair of socks
Durable sports bra
A half slip this is an absolute must in Uganda
A swimsuit
80 PEACE CORPS
Some nice clothing for going out to a bar or dancing in
Kampala (its nice to look like an American sometimes,
especially in the city).
For Men
Four pairs of darker-colored nice cotton or polyester-
blend trousers for work (jeans are OK for casual wear,
not for work, but are very hard to wash and dry)
One nice dress shirt and tie for special occasions (a
sports coat is very useful but not a must, and some
teacher trainers find they need to wear ties)
Four or five button-down shirts for work, most short-
sleeved. Wrinkle-free clothes are very helpful.
One or two pairs of shorts (conservative length) for
sports and wearing around the house
Four or five T-shirts for casual wear and physical labor
Two-year supply of cotton underwear and socks
Swimsuit
Shoes
One pair of dress shoes
One pair of sturdy, comfortable work shoes with closed
toes
Tennis shoes (Some volunteers use them regularly for
exercise/sports; others never wear theirs)
One pair of sturdy sandals (flip-flops and simple canvas
shoes are available in Uganda)
Chacos (chacousa.com) are very popular, and the
company gives a 50 percent discount to Peace Corps
Volunteers. The offer is not available online so call or
e-mail them directly.
82 PEACE CORPS
Hair-cutting scissors
Sewing kit
Small mirror
Chapstick with sunscreen
Facial sunscreen
Makeup (for Kampala)
Face Wash
Tampons (if you are particular because only OB is
widely available)
Nail polish and foot scrub/pumice stone to get off all
the dirt
Pump of Hand Sanitizer and some small bottles
Astringent (take note of airline security limits on
packing liquids).
Kitchen
Electronics
84 PEACE CORPS
Solar-powered battery charger and batteries, if needed
for your gear (example: Solio)
Rechargeable batteries or a lot of batteries (headlamps
usually take AAA)
Music player and music (consider the power and battery
consumption of the different options; also consider the
risk of having this stolen)
Flash drive
A spool of blank CDs for burning pictures
A few favorite DVDs
Laptop
Converter/Regulator for computer and other electronics
(or you can purchase in Uganda)
A small external harddrive is nice to have (e.g. Rugged
Harddrive)
Food
Taco and fajita seasoning
Pasta sauce mix
Macaroni and cheese and the accompanying cheese
powder
Drink mixes (Gatorade or EmergenC)
Packets of meat (tuna, crab, salmon, etc.)
Granola bars
Spices
Coffee and tea
Dried fruit
Candy
Hot sauce (like Taco Bell sauce packets)
Nuts
Parmesan cheese
86 PEACE CORPS
Zip Ties
Musical instruments (if you play or plan to learn)
A few novels (to read and swap)
Hobby materials like sketching pads and pencils
Games
A lot of pictures of your family and friends
Vitamins and calcium chews
Earrings and other fun jewelry
Seeds for gardening (lettuce, cucumber, carrots,
broccoli)
Markers, stationary and cards
Earplugs
Laundry bag
Jump rope
Good, detailed map of Uganda (This will come in very
handy when planning travel.)
Bradt Guide for Uganda
Frisbee, soccer ball or wiffle ball and bat
88 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
Family
Notify your family that they can call the Peace Corps
Office of Special Services at any time if there is a
critical illness or death of a family member (telephone
number: 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470).
Give the Peace Corps On the Home Front handbook to
family and friends.
Passport/Travel
Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork
for the Peace Corps passport and visas.
Verify that luggage meets the size and weight limits for
international travel.
Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after
your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will
expire three months after you finish your service,
so if you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular
passport.)
Medical/Health
Complete any needed dental and medical work.
If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.
Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all medications
(including birth control pills) you are currently taking.
Personal Papers
Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
Voting
Register to vote in the state of your home of record.
(Many state universities consider voting and payment
of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)
Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you
overseas.
Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you
overseas.
Personal Effects
Purchase personal property insurance to extend from
the time you leave your home for service overseas until
the time you complete your service and return to the
United States.
92 PEACE CORPS
Financial Management
Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or
loan service.
Execute a power of attorney for the management of
your property and business.
Arrange for deductions from your readjustment allow-
ance to pay alimony, child support, and other debts
through Volunteer Financial Operations at 1-800-424-
8580, extension 1770.
Place all important papers mortgages, deeds, stocks,
and bonds in a safe deposit box or with an attorney
or other caretaker.
For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number
Responding to Office of
an Invitation Placement
Africa Region Ext. 1850 202.692.1850
Medical Handled by a
Reimbursements Subcontractor 800.818.8772
96 PEACE CORPS
P EAC E C O R P S
Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street NW Washington, DC 20526 www.peacecorps.gov 1-800-424-8580