Packing for Volunteer Work Trip to Uganda

If you are leaving in the winter from North America or Europe, take a light jacket, but a big bulky jacket or coat will not be necessary.

Suitcases: Two allowed, but a piece of advice, keep all medicine, electronic equipment, battery chargers, camera equipment in carry on. Also put one set of clothing if the unthinkable happens that your luggage is temporarily lost and you are going on a project without proper clothes. The good news is that you can always buy at Owino one of the largest second hand markets in Africa in downtown Kampala. Back one suitcase with your clothes and the other with things for project. If you are working with children then it is appropriate that you bring things for them. If a medical mission, than medicine and things you will need. Again check with the airline if you can bring any extra suitcases for humanitarian purposes.
Suitcase Tags or Stickers: Have all team members use a similar luggage tag or a team sticker on each suitcase of other box or bag. This makes it easier when pulling luggage off for the team at airport arrival in Uganda.
Money Belt: One that will allow you to carry your passport also and you can wear under your shirt.
Clothes:

Jeans and Trousers: If you are in a building project, jeans and khakis are fine, for most purposes casual is ok. Though many travel guides tell you no jeans, I find them as one of the best items to bring and most durable

Shorts: Though you will see mini-skirts here and there (usually worn with leggings for modesty) keep them at home. Shorts of baggy nature are fine, Uganda is more conservative. There are about 3 1/2 million Muslims, 11 million who are Born Again (Pentecostal here) and about 7 million evangelical belonging to the Church of Uganda, besides about 6 million Catholics. Too short of attire here would immediately raise a cultural block and that would be counter-productive to your purpose here.

Light Shirts and Blouses: T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, things that do not need a lot of ironing and be simply folded. The detergents here are quite harsh here since they contain phosphates and bleach out the colors, keep that in mind and they are hung into the equatorial sun for drying which also bleaches out colors.

Sweater and Jackets: Are not needed for most volunteer work projects in Uganda unless you are a cold blooded person and a light jacket might just be right for you.

Skirts: made of cotton, nothing synthetic since that will simply cause you to sweat more. Modesty once again.

Socks and underwear: Once again it is best that they are made from natural fabrics since again it is the heat and this way you have less of a chance for heat rash.

Shoes: Good leather shoes, sandals, and a lightweight pair of Hiking boots if it is rainy season. Our guest-house staff does a great job in restoring them

One Set of more dressy clothes: If you will be attending church wear something a bit more dressy and the same set of clothing can be worn when you attend the farewell dinner.

If you will be attending meetings with officials than it would be best to dress for the occasion. Ugandans make many allowances for Bazungu and know that we do not dress as they do for business functions in suit and tie and or proper dress.

Photographic Equipment: If you are using film, bring it along. It is much more expensive here. Batteries, bring rechargeable ones, most chargers can take the local voltage if you have plug in that fits here (UK kind). You can slowly upload your pictures from guest house computer. There is no high speed here.
Voltage here is 240 volts: Laptops are usually no problem if you have a converter plug-in. Do get a spike protector since the power often fluctuates here. In the USA you can get them at any radio-shack. Hair dryers, most leave them home. Your hair will dry in minutes due to the warmth in Uganda.
Toilet Bag: Anti-bacterial soap (though you can buy several kind here). razor, toothbrush, shampoo. Most of these items can be easily bought here including feminine hygiene products.
First Aid Kit: Include band-aids, antiseptic, Imodium, aspirin and any other thing you deem necessary.
Small Flashlight: Is a good thing to have a long, the power goes out often at least for a few minutes until generators kick in.
Binoculars: If you are going on Safari.
Small gifts such as T-Shirts: For Ugandan Friends that you might meet here. Hard candy for kids is always a hit. Again you can pack them into second suitcase.

Forget all the fancy gadgets they sell you in airports, they are for the most part useless. Bring a few books on Uganda instead. Weigh suitcases before reaching the airport so that you co not have to pay any overcharges. Have any documents authorizing you to bring extra luggage with you.