Uganda operates on the “reciprocal visa” system. That is, if your home country requires Ugandan citizens to obtain an entry visa, then you are required to obtain an entry visa to enter Uganda. Visas can be obtained in advance from the closest Ugandan Embassy to you, or upon arrival at the airport.  Citizens of East Africa do not need a visa to enter Uganda.  Proof of yellow fever immunization is also required.

How do I obtain local currency?

The vast majority of financial transactions in Uganda are by cash. Credit cards are accepted in very, very few places and credit card fraud is common.  Do not plan to be able to use a credit card in Uganda, and if they are accepted, it is not advised. Likewise, personal cheques are not accepted.  Traveler’s Cheques are only accepted at a few Forex Bureaus, and garner a much lower exchange rate.

The two best ways to obtain local currency are:

1.      Bring cash to convert to Ugandan Shillings at a Bank or Forex Bureau.  Larger bills, dated 2003 or more recent, bring the best exchange rate.  For example, US$50 and US$100 bring much better rates than lower bills.  The best rates for converting cash will be at Forex Bureaus in Kampala. Banks upcountry will have limited capacity for converting large amounts of foreign currency.

2.      Bring your ATM/Debit card to withdraw Ugandan Shillings from your home bank. Your ATM/Debit card must have on it either the VISA logo or the MasterCard logo.

a.       ATM cards with the VISA logo can be used at the following banks:

i.      Barclay’s

ii.      Standard Chartered

iii.      Crane

iv.      Stanbic

b.      ATM cards with the MasterCard logo can be used only at the following bank:

i.      Stanbic

Finally, it is advised that you do most currency conversion in Kampala before going upcountry.

Forex Bureaus are open Monday – Friday during business hours, and Saturday mornings. Only Forex Bureaus in the major hotels in Kampala are open on Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday.

How do I communicate with home while I am in Uganda?

Check with your local mobile phone provider to find out if they have roaming agreements with Ugandan mobile phone providers. Be advised, however, that it will be difficult for your Ugandan hosts to communicate with you if you are using an international number because of the expense.

It is recommended that you purchase a local Ugandan sim card to facilitate communications within Uganda, especially with your local hosts. A Ugandan sim card is very easy and inexpensive to purchase, generally costing less than US$2. To use a local sim card, however, your phone must be unlocked. Airtime is purchased on a pre-paid basis and is available everywhere. The major mobile phone providers in Uganda are MTN, Uganda Telecom, Zain, and Warid.

Uganda operates on the GSM platform (sim cards) at 900 and 1800 Mhz frequency, which are the same frequencies used in Europe and Asia (except for Japan). So, European phone handsets should work in Uganda. American and Canadian phone handsets are typically hard-wired to operate on the North American frequencies of 850 and 1900 Mhz.  Therefore, American or Canadian phone handsets will only work if they are tri-band phones, i.e., if they also operate on the 900/1800 Mhz frequencies. (For more information about frequencies used for mobile telephony, click here.)  North Americans should expect to need to purchase an inexpensive phone handset while in Uganda.  Finally, only an unlocked phone will be able to recognize another sim card.

So, in summary, if you plan to use your phone handset with a Ugandan sim card, the following conditions must apply:

• Hard-wired to operate on 900/1800 Mhz frequencies. North American handsets, therefore, must be tri-band.
• GSM platform (uses a sim card)
• Unlocked

Genuine phone handsets are available in Uganda for approximately $40.  Some groups/teams share the cost of purchasing a phone and regard it as the “group phone.”

Internet access is limited in Uganda. The fibre optic backbone has not yet come to Uganda, thus making all internet access very expensive through satellite connections. Most internet access is found at Internet Cafés in Kampala and other towns and is generally very, very slow. There are only a few “hotspots” where wireless internet access can be found. Do not expect to be able to connect a laptop computer to wireless internet.

What is the electricity situation in Uganda?

Uganda operates on 240 watts and 50 cycles (like the UK).  If you are from a country that uses 110 currency, either bring a transformer or bring dual-voltage electronics.  Wall sockets use the three-pronged plug found in Britain.  If you are coming from a country other than the UK, make sure you bring adaptor plugs.  Electricity is unpredictable and unreliable in Uganda. The country does not produce enough electricity for its customers, so there is regular load-shedding. Some places have back-up systems like generators or solar, but others simply rely on candles or kerosene lanterns when power is out. Back-up systems are not usually able to support high-demand electrical appliances, such as, hair dryers.

What do I need to know about water, health, and safety concerns?

Water that comes from the tap is not safe for drinking. Only purchased bottled water, filtered, or boiled water is safe for drinking. Malaria is prevalent throughout Uganda. Taking a malaria prophylaxis is advised. Check with your doctor about which prophylaxis to take. Yellow fever immunization is required for entry into Uganda. Eat only well-cooked foods. Milk should be boiled before drinking. Road accidents are common; wearing safety belts is recommended. Walking alone at night in Kampala is not advised.

If I need emergency medical care, where can I go?

In Kampala there are two medical practices/clinics that operate on international health standards:

1.      The Surgery (www.thesurgeryuganda.org)

2.      The International Hospital Kampala.  The International Hospital Kampala is part of the International Medical Group and they are expanding their family of clinics throughout the country.

We recommend travel health insurance that includes medical evacuation (for emergencies) and repatriation of remains in the event of an untimely death.  Both the Surgery and the IHK can arrange for medical evacuations.

What are some important things to know about local culture?

1.      In Uganda, Christians do not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes; it is part of the culture of the East African Revival.  We recommend abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes during your visit to the Church of Uganda.

2.      A culture of modesty and formality prevails in Uganda.  Women are advised to wear skirts or dresses with lengths ideally below the knee and shoulders covered.  No slacks or shorts. Men should wear button shirts; a tie and sports coat are recommended for church or public speaking.  Clergy should wear clerical collars.  Do not dress as if you are going on a camping trip…because you are not!

3.      Greetings are a very important part of Ugandan culture.  Take time to thoroughly greet people.

What kinds of gifts are appropriate to bring our hosts?

Practical gifts are appreciated the most. Staple foods, such as sugar, rice, or beans, are always appropriate and can be purchased locally within Uganda.  Other ideas include:

• Towels
• Flat bed sheets
• Memorabilia from your church or town/city, e.g., t-shirts, mugs, pens, etc.
• Ministry resources, e.g., African Bible Commentary
• Sports equipment, e.g., soccer ball, frisbee

What recommendations do you have for accommodation?

In Kampala, the Church of Uganda runs a Guest House that has a reputation for its “Million Dollar View” and is known as an “international crossroads” because of the number of visitors it receives every year from around the world. The Namirembe Guest House is modest, but reasonable, provides convenient access to the headquarters of the Church of Uganda and supports the Church.  Bookings for the Namirembe Guest House can be made through their website. They also offer airport pick-up and drop-off service for a fee, which can be arranged through their website.

In Entebbe, there are quiet Guest Houses, and vibrant resorts. The Airport Guest House offers a quiet environment with en suite rooms at a very reasonable rate.

If you are going upcountry, your local host will make accommodation arrangements for you.

How do I arrange local transportation?

Personal car hires are available, but it is not recommended that one hire a car without a driver. Your local hosts will usually make all your in-country transportation arrangements on your behalf. Typically, a car hire and driver for upcountry trips cost $100 per day; fuel is extra.

Public transportation consists of bus, special hire cars, taxis (15-seat passenger vans), and boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis).  Boda-bodas are not advised, as they are extremely dangerous and life-threatening.

For recommendations on personal car hire services, please contact the Church of Uganda at COUNews@gmail.com.

Are there any special sites I should make sure I see when visiting Uganda?

In the greater Kampala area, one should not miss visiting the Shrine of the Uganda Martyrs. Likewise, if possible, you should visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe. This is the mother church for Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga-Zaire and is where the first missionaries settled and began evangelizing Uganda.

A trip to a National Park is always recommended. If you are planning an upcountry trip, your local hosts can advise you about National Parks near to where you will be.

If you are traveling East of Kampala, we recommend visiting Uganda Christian University in Mukono and the Source of the Nile in Jinja.

GAFCON began as the Global Anglican Future Conference and Pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It produced a conference Statement which expressed the minds and hearts of the 1,200 people present, including entire House of Bishops from the Provinces of Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. In addition, there were representative Bishops from Tanzania, Congo, West Africa, Sudan, India, Southern Cone, Southeast Asia, Australia, USA, Canada, and UK. The clear mind of the conference was threefold:
1.    The fellowship that was shared needed to continue beyond just this one event, and it needed to expand to include others who are sympathetic to the vision and goals of GAFCON. Hence, it was declared that
2.    The Jerusalem Declaration, a statement of 14 theological points, is at the heart of this movement and fellowship of confessing Anglicans.
3.    We asked the Primates to form a Primates Council to serve as the Instrument of Unity, Leadership, and Authority for this Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, and we gave to the Primates Council the authority to recognize Anglicans, even if they were not already recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

What is the Anglican Communion?

The Anglican Communion is a family of independent and autonomous Provinces of Churches, most of whom trace their origin to the Church of England, who worship using the Book of Common Prayer, and whose Bishops have been ordained in apostolic succession through the English succession.  It is not like the Roman Catholic Church, which is governed by the Pope. There is no central headquarters for the Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury is not like an “Anglican Pope.”

Recently, four “Instruments of Communion” were identified as structures for the Communion:
1.    The Archbishop of Canterbury
2.    The Primates Meeting
3.    The Lambeth Conference of Bishops
4.    The Anglican Consultative Council
The Primates Meeting only meets when it is called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and only the ones invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury go to the meeting. The Lambeth Conference only meets when called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and only the ones invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury go to the meeting.  The President of the Anglican Consultative Council is the Archbishop of Canterbury and he inaugurates meetings of the ACC. The one person that is common to all four Instruments of Communion is the Archbishop of Canterbury, and without him they cannot do very much. Practically speaking, then, it is the Archbishop of Canterbury who is at the centre of the Communion’s structures, and one man, through the power of invitation, determines who is “in” the Anglican Communion, and who is “out” of the Anglican Communion.  And, this one man is not elected by his fellow Primates.  He is, rather, appointed by a secular government.

GAFCON came to the sober realization that the existing structures of the Anglican Communion were no longer serving the Communion well. So, GAFCON launched a Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, whose structure of unity/communion is a Council of Primates, and “membership” in the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans is determined by assent to the Jerusalem Declaration.

Does the COU’s role in GAFCON mean that we are breaking up the Anglican Communion?

No.  GAFCON, and the COU’s role in GAFCON, is a movement to restore good order, theological integrity, and Biblical faithfulness to the Anglican Communion, which was deeply wounded in 2003 when the Episcopal Church in America consecrated as bishop a gay man living in a same-sex relationship. If the Anglican Communion breaks up it will be because of the actions of the American Church, its ongoing unrepentant attitude toward them, and their determined imperialism to impose their views on the rest of the Anglican Communion.  Not only has the American Church not repented of its 2003 decision and action, but they have continued to advance non-Biblical teaching and practice. Their Bishops and many clergy have presided at the blessing of same-sex unions. Their Archbishop does not believe the Bible when Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.” Another American Bishop has said, “The Church wrote the Bible, so the church can re-write the Bible.”

What is our relationship with the Archbishop of Canterbury?

Our relationship with the Archbishop of Canterbury is the same as it has always been, although the current crisis has strained our relationship. He is the Primate of All England. We have great respect for the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury because his church brought the Gospel to us, and we honour him for that. The Church of Uganda, however, is not governed by him. In 1961 the Church of Uganda became autonomous from the Church of England and is now governed by our Provincial Assembly and led by the Archbishop of Uganda.

How can we be part of the Anglican Communion if we don’t recognize the authority of Canterbury?

The Anglican Communion is a family of self-governing, autonomous churches, most of whom trace their origins to the Church of England.  When the Church of Uganda became independent of the Church of England in 1961, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave up his authority in Uganda, but remained with some degree of influence as a result of our history.

What is our relationship with the Anglican Communion now? Are we still in the Anglican Communion?

The Church of Uganda is a full member of the Anglican Communion. We love the Anglican Communion and are committed to seeing the Anglican Communion thrive today in its Christ-centred, Biblical, and mission-driven heritage.

What is our relationship with the Episcopal Church in America (TEC)?

The Church of Uganda broke fellowship with The Episcopal Church in the United States in 2003 when they elected and consecrated as Bishop a man living in an active homosexual relationship. The Episcopal Church has not repented of that decision. In fact, some of their bishops have presided at the blessing of same-sex unions and are advocating their use by clergy in their dioceses.  We are very sad that the leadership of the Episcopal Church has taken these decisions because they are like false shepherds leading their people astray. We love them and long for them to repent and return to the Truth of God’s Word. We pray for them.

There are many Americans who do not support the unbiblical decisions of the Episcopal Church. We are in fellowship with them. More than 44 congregations in America have appealed to be part of the Church of Uganda so they can continue to be Anglicans. We have welcomed them and consecrated an American as a Bishop to support them.

Why did our Bishops not go to Lambeth?

The Church of Uganda Bishops decided together not to go to the Lambeth Conference this year. Their decision was unanimously supported by the governing body of the Church of Uganda, the Provincial Assembly Standing Committee. The reason the Church of Uganda did not go to Lambeth is because the purpose of Lambeth is for fellowship among Bishops, and our fellowship has been broken with the American church. In direct violation of the Bible and historic Christian teaching, they consecrated as a Bishop a gay man living in a same-sex relationship.  After five years of pleading with them, listening to them, and giving them many opportunities, they have not repented of that decision.

The Archbishop of Canterbury did not follow the advice given to him by his own appointed Commission to not invite to Lambeth those responsible for the confusion and disobedience in the Anglican Communion. The Bible says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” We have not been in fellowship with the Americans who have violated the Bible since 2003, so we were not going to pretend by going to Lambeth that we are in fellowship. We are not. What they have done is a very serious thing, and what the Archbishop of Canterbury has done in inviting them is grievous and we wanted them to know that.

How does COU’s role in GAFCON affect my local church and my identity as an Anglican?

The Church of Uganda’s role in GAFCON means that the values of the Church of Uganda have been affirmed – the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, the importance of mission and evangelism, and the need for a practical outworking of the Gospel in the day-to-day lives of our people and communities.  .

What is the COU’s position on the ordination of women as Bishops?

The canons of the Church of Uganda indicate that anyone who is ordained is eligible to be elected as a Bishop.

What is the COU’s position on homosexuality?

The Church of Uganda’s position on homosexual behaviour is taken from the Bible, where it is considered a sin, along with idolatry, drunkenness, greed, adultery, stealing, fornication, lying, etc. (1 Corinthians 6.9-11).  Jesus came to save men and women, boys and girls from the power of sin and to give them abundant life in the righteousness of Christ.  The Church of Uganda welcomes all sinners and proclaims the Bible’s promise, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But, if we confess our sin, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1.8-9).  Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi has said, “Violence against homosexuals is wrong.”