The Basics - Uganda
FAQs - Uganda
This is my viewpoint according to the assignment I have in the Bukoto English Congregation in Kampala, Uganda.
Banking and Money
You can pull from ATMs all over the city, they charge roughly a $13.ooUSD dollar fee every time you pull the max which is $275.ooUSD. $1.ooUSD is worth about $3,5oo.ooUGX (shillings).
You can pull from ATMs all over the city, they charge roughly a $13.ooUSD dollar fee every time you pull the max which is $275.ooUSD. $1.ooUSD is worth about $3,5oo.ooUGX (shillings).
Food
You can eat out in the city center and get a full plate of excellent local food with meat, banana mash, corn flour mash, yam, cassava, pumpkin, split peas, rice with sauce and a glass bottle of soda for $1.3oUSD. Groceries are also very cheap. A very large avocado .15cUSD watermelon .6ocUSD a cup of dry pinto beans .6ocUSD, 2lbs potatoes for about .5ocUSD we came out of the market with 2 large bags of fruit and vegetables having spent less than 6 dollars.
Language
The people are well educated, they speak English very well. To be understood clearly it is best to pronounce the Ts and Ds and all the ends of your words clearly. They usually understand an american accent well. Some of the younger generation speak only English or are more fluent in English than any other native tongue of Uganda. The tongue spoken otherwise is most often Luganda, but over 5o languages are spoken in Uganda. We print in 11 of those languages used by the majority of people.
People
The people are very warm inviting and hosptable. They'll often have you in their home to visit. They are happy humble and family oriented. Most are Christian or Muslim. Indians and Chinese make up a small fraction of the population. The local people are usually very poor, 23 percent earning less than $1.25USD a day.
Climate
Dry season is between December and March and it is around 75F - 9oF. In Uganda it is appropriate to wear shorts down to the knee. Out in service you'll want to have flowy breathable skirts made out of lenon or cotton or other non synthetic fabrics. Only about 1/3 of the people are wearing traditional African fabrics. Any simple clothing will help you to not stand out, but they love a lot of color. Minimal expensive jewelry is a good idea.
Water
Hot and cold running water is available! You need to be very careful about not consuming even water droplets. For drinking, you can boil and drink water or buy a 4+ gallon bottle which is under $2.ooUSD. We use a kettle and boil the water so that it's potable.
Hot and cold running water is available! You need to be very careful about not consuming even water droplets. For drinking, you can boil and drink water or buy a 4+ gallon bottle which is under $2.ooUSD. We use a kettle and boil the water so that it's potable.
Vaccines
Yellow fever is required for your application for entrance into the country. You will be given a official certificate when you recieve your shot.
Yellow fever is required for your application for entrance into the country. You will be given a official certificate when you recieve your shot.
Sicknesses
Keep mosquito off. Keep your immune system working well. Get needed rest. Don't get sunburned. Eat right. Exercise. Sicknesses can be minimized or avoided by taking great care of your self and being super careful with contaminated water or food. Prepare to be sick for the first few weeks at least while you're body adjusts.
Health Care
Hospitals are relatively low cost, but 3rd world ofcourse.
Housing
A beautiful large completely tiled apartment is for less than 2oo.ooUSD a month. Running hot and cold water, indoor plumbing, electricity (charged separately), unfurnished. In the city you'll see a lot of nice apartments that can be up to $1,ooo.oo and you'll also see a lot of slums with unfinished concrete and brick walls and rusted zinc. Unfinished roads and broken down and dirty areas.
A beautiful large completely tiled apartment is for less than 2oo.ooUSD a month. Running hot and cold water, indoor plumbing, electricity (charged separately), unfurnished. In the city you'll see a lot of nice apartments that can be up to $1,ooo.oo and you'll also see a lot of slums with unfinished concrete and brick walls and rusted zinc. Unfinished roads and broken down and dirty areas.
Internet
Internet with a mobile router is through Vodaphone, is about $37.ooUSD for 1oGB of data.
Internet with a mobile router is through Vodaphone, is about $37.ooUSD for 1oGB of data.
Electricity
Electricity is somewhat reliable. It will go out on us for about 6 hours every couple of months, or during storm rains. It's about $15.ooUSD a month.
Click on this link https://visas.immigration.go.ug and apply for a tourist visa online. It is a four step process that requires a passport photo, passport, and yellow fever shot. It is $51.5oUSD. Within a few days they'll tell you if you've been approved for a 3 month visitor visa. If you want to stay longer than 3 months you can get a visa for volunteering at a school or the like, or try to get a job for one day a week or so and get a work visa. What I did was buy some schooling for about $8o.ooUSD that lasts 3 months and get a schooling visa. I bought classes to learn Luganda and another visa pass to learn Ugandan sign language. A student visa has least amount paper work and is less involved than the other types of visas.
Airports
Which airport would we fly into? Entebbe. Then a taxi for $2o.ooUSD to get to Bukoto, Kampala.
Local transport
Near the city you walk or use buses called taxis. Only .14cUSD to take from a 5 minute to 15 minute buss ride. (Within the territory.) You may use a bus around 2 to 4 times a day. Boda boda is a ride on a motorcycle taxi, they'll also zip you around for about the same price.
Total costs
Roughly $3oo.oo-$333.ooUSD a month.
What else should I add to my list of basics to help people get a rough idea of what it's like in Kampala, Uganda? Thank you!
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