Uganda is a fast growing African economy with a history of conflict. As the country restores lost glory, many international organizations such as, Peace Corps and VSO International have set up camp in various regions.
Activities for volunteers in international organizations focus on education, health, poverty alleviation, human rights and gender issues. Volunteering in Uganda promises both the young and old skill based programmes that support, inspire and help lift local communities out of poverty.
Time spent volunteering in Uganda can be one of life’s most meaningful experiences. Contrary to popular thinking, getting involved in a worthy cause can be achieved in a variety of way such as, enrolling to participate in a fund raising challenge or activity in Uganda (many of which are run by charity and humanitarian organizations), campaigning and/or raising funds for the cause within your own community and of course visiting the country and contributing your time and skills. For more information, browsing through this website will help you decide on how best to participate and contribute.
Volunteering is time consuming and requires adequate preparation. If you have the time, arranging such a trip should involve talking to past volunteers (many of whom have posted blogs on the internet). However, if you are short on time, it may be easier to use the services of an agency dedicated to organising volunteer placements around the world.
They will help you to identify appropriate options and arrange your Ugandan experience. For a modest fee, such agencies can simplify the process and ensure your trip to the Pearl of Africa is productive and memorable.
About Uganda
The Republic of Uganda is located on the eastern African plateau 800 km inland from the Indian Ocean. It has a total area of 236,000 sq km including 44,081 sq km of inland water.
There are several fresh-water lakes (Victoria, Albert and Edward) which are shared with neighbouring countries and make up the basin for the Upper (White) Nile. The country has an equatorial climate, modified by altitude. Uganda is bordered by Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, and Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.
Uganda has ten national parks, ten wildlife reserves and seven wildlife sanctuaries, some of which are acclaimed as being amongst Africa’s best.
Development in Uganda
Throughout Africa, the AIDS crisis is placing serious strains on societies in a number of ways. First of all, it is draining the already limited health services as greater numbers of HIV patients become in need of care. HIV/AIDS has also increased the mortality rate of healthcare workers making their already depleted numbers in even shorter supply.
HIV/AIDS is also affecting the young adult group in society who are the prime income earners for their household. When young children lose their parents, they are often forced to leave school in order to work. Households with one or more HIV patients have to spend a greater amount of their meagre income on care and funeral costs and cut back on basic necessities and, in order to cope, they may be forced to borrow from other households and use up their savings. This causes many families to fall into further poverty.
Due to high birth rates and excess mortality as a result of AIDS, half the population are made up of children aged 0-15.
Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world, with per capita income at US$ 276 and a life expectancy of 47 years for men and 50 years for women which is expected to worsen as a consequence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The under five mortality rate is 156 children per 1,000 live births and 38.3% of every new born gets stunted due to malnutrition.
Volunteer Impact
Volunteers provide assistance to disadvantaged socio-economic groups within Ugandan communities, focusing primarily on orphaned children, HIV/Aids groups, and school children.
As a volunteer in Uganda you can provide love, affection, education and support to orphaned children. You will help to improve education in schools ensuring children learn and flourish. As a volunteer you can practice and teach preventative healthcare, hygiene and HIV/Aids care. You will also provide education, inter-cultural exchange and understanding in Ugandan communities.
Most projects have little or no resources, so foreign volunteers with different ideas and experiences are highly valued.
Popular Projects
Orphan Care
For volunteers wishing to work in a very remote area with HIV affected orphans, our partner works with a project in western Uganda, about 5 hours away from its other host organizations. This is the area where HIV/AIDS has most devastated Uganda. The organisation is focused on bringing aid, education, and love to the orphans of the area, many of whom have lost their parents due to AIDS related illnesses. Volunteers help with basic academics, feeding, organizing play, arts and crafts, hygiene and HIV/AIDS education appropriate to the childrens’ age level (3 to 12 years).
Volunteers may be asked to help with administrative work such as budgeting, updating paperwork, writing proposals, and maintaining personal files on the children. This is a challenging but amazing program for volunteers with experience organising children, such as camp counsellors, day care workers, and people who love children. Bring your games, songs, and enthusiasm to the village! Volunteers are given a private room in the home of the host organization’s director, 3km from the project. Volunteers are expected to walk to the project each day.
Village Teaching and Outreach
Our partner works with a number of small community based organizations that provide counselling, care, and education for rural people and orphaned and underprivileged children. Some of these placements focus exclusively on teaching primary or secondary school. Others include both teaching and community outreach components. Please inform us if you wish to teach, do outreach work, or a combination of both, so we can best choose your program.
Volunteers in this project are able to volunteer for a minimum of two weeks, however please note that if you would like to work within a classroom setting, you will need to commit to volunteer for at least one month.
Mukono Town Teaching
Our partner works with four private primary schools in Mukono town that cater exclusively to the education, housing and feeding of needy children and orphans. Volunteers are involved in arts and crafts, structured play, music/singing, sports, health, and academics. The main focus is to provide children with a loving, creative, interactive environment in which to flourish. Volunteers choose which subjects and age groups to teach upon arrival. They work independently to plan lessons using government curriculum and textbooks. Please be aware that there will be few (if any) resources available at school.
Volunteers should bring any supplies, teaching materials, or instruments they wish to make use of. Volunteers may also choose to work in a local residential home for special needs children. Main activities include structured play, story time, feeding, basic colours and numbers. All volunteers working in Mukono Town Teaching (up to 5 at one time) will be housed together in shared accommodation in a large apartment in Mukono Town, a semi-urban area
Public Health Improvement
This is a project promoting general public health improvement through our parnter in Uganda. Volunteers travel with and work alongside Ugandan counsellors in a variety of programs, directly benefiting 10 rural communities and 7 secondary schools. Volunteers will be engaged in a combination of the following activities:
Village outreach: Public speaking and mentoring in various rural communities respecting HIV/AIDS, malaria, hygiene, family planning, reproductive health, nutrition, early childhood feeding, sanitation, women’s rights and domestic violence.
This is the most important and most common activity undertaken by volunteers. Volunteers talk to people in village meetings, private homes, and churches. They design their own seminars based on predetermined subject matter. Basic training and educational materials are on site, but volunteers are encouraged to bring new materials as well.
Secondary School outreach: Public speaking and mentoring of youth about teen issues. These may include drug abuse, pregnancy, STDs, sexual education, and decision-making. Volunteers visit schools weekly speaking directly to students about issues affecting them. Again, volunteers will design their own speeches, but will be given basic training and access to educational materials in order to prepare themselves.
Clinical work: Volunteers work either in a village or school clinic dressing wounds, treating patients, and helping the on-site medical personnel according to their skills and education. Periodic events include HIV testing and counseling days, mosquito net giveaways, and home visits to meet and greet patients may happen according to funding.
As the local need changes frequently, volunteers will take part in a flexible schedule, which includes some or all activities offered by the program. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and culture is encouraged. This project may require walking long distances in the sun.
This project requires walking long distances in the sun. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag, and protective clothing and walking shoes. Volunteers will be given a private room at the headquarters of the host organization as their home base. When work is done in surrounding villages, volunteers will be billeted short-term on site.
FAQ
How safe is it to volunteer in Uganda?
We work very hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering. Uganda has a democratic electoral process and a stable economy. You should use common sense as you would anywhere, particularly in the cities, but generally the Ugandan people are very warm and friendly towards foreigners, so you will be well looked after.
What is the climate like in Uganda?
The best times to visit are December-March and June-September. It can be somewhat rainy then, but not as rainy as in the rainy season, March-June. December-February and June-July are the driest times, when things can even be a bit dusty. Although the country lies astride the equator, most of Uganda is on a plateau 3,600-6,000 ft/900-1,830 m above sea level. Temperatures in some parts of the country can be quite cool owing to the country’s high altitude, despite its position on the equator. The mountain areas become much cooler, and the top of Mount Elgon is often covered with snow. Other parts of the country are much warmer.
What else can I do in Uganda?
Volunteers in Uganda have no shortage of opportunities to take in the natural treasures of the country. Start by white water rafting on the Nile, settle into a boat ride at Murchison Falls National Park, or take an amazing trek to view endangered Gorillas in the jungle. Then spoil yourself to a spot of shopping at the Kampala market and while you’re there enjoy great coffee at any of the wireless internet cafes in town. If you’re lucky, you can catch a Ugandan wedding and don a traditional Gomez to look the part!
What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
• Diphtheria and tetanus
• Polio
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever – a certificate proving you have had this should be shown at the airport on arrival
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Malaria (needs to be closely discussed with doctor)
Some of these can be taken in oral form so please do discuss all options with your doctor to see what is best for you. Some people can be affected quite differently to others by medication. A Yellow fever vaccination is legally required to enter Uganda if coming from an at-risk area and you will need to provide a certificate to prove you have had it to obtain a visa.
Reviews & Feedback
“My volunteering experience in Mukono, Uganda was exceptional! The opportunity to get to know and work with the others on the team was a pleasure. Trips to villages, a school for orphans, secondary schools, etc. provided a variety of interactions. I was more than satisfied with all aspects of my time there. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and that goal was definitely met!” – Mary
“Everything is great in Uganda, we’re absolutely loving it. Of course things are super unorganized, chaotic, but exciting and really lovely as well. The people in the villages where we’ve been working are absolutely incredible, so generous and welcoming. We’re sleeping in grass huts with mice, eating with our fingers, cooking over charcoal, and playing with naked kids; it’s amazing! Doing lots of things I thought I’d find really challenging, but turning out to be a lot easier than I imagined, and totally makes you appreciate all we have back home!” – Caitlin
“I am doing very well in Uganda…absolutely loving it. So far, another volunteer and I have taught English classes, some origami crafts, house visits in rural villages, some construction work, weeding in the garden, and lots of playing with the kids at House of Hope. Today we went with another volunteer with his family to go swimming in a pool and it was so much fun! None of the Ugandans could swim!! We gave swimming lessons and got them all lunch.
I think the highlights for my trip so far have been the friendships/relationships that I’ve developed with the other volunteers and Ugandans. I never thought that that would be such a huge part of my trip, but the relationships I’ve made are what’s really mattered and impacted, I think. I am so excited to wake up each morning and begin a new day in this beautiful country. Tomorrow, we leave for White Water Rafting in the Nile River!!” – Jillian
“Uganda is a beautiful country in all aspects – the people, the landscape, and the rich culture all made our month there the most amazing experience. There are many diverse volunteer projects scattered across the country, all of which are committed to making positive, sustainable change for Ugandans and their environment.
It was wonderful to know that all of our hard work was really paying off, as we were able to see the positive effects it had on the community. Everyone was so grateful for the work we were doing; it was always a treat to be warmly greeted and thanked on our walk back from the garden!
We found it easy to submerse ourselves in the culture. The Ugandan people are overwhelmingly hospitable and welcoming to visitors, and are always willing to help out a lost or confused Muzungu. We made many lifelong friends, locals and international volunteers alike, and we all can’t wait to go back as soon as we can!
The support on the ground is fantastic, and any question we had was answered with knowledge and enthusiasm. Jump in with both feet and an open mind, and you will fall in love with beautiful Uganda just as we did.” – Gillian Burt
“Uganda is a beautiful country that you will never regret visiting. Volunteering there isn’t easy, but you’ll learn so much, and grow as a person. The people are welcoming, and appreciative of the time you give them. I taught in rural Uganda, and lived with a Ugandan family. Go for it – it’s a priceless experience.” – Sonya Duffy