Nutrition Education and Policy:
A Partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and Makerere University, Uganda

Health and Security

GYMS AND POOLS

• Club 5 on Makerere Campus near MISR has a gym.

• Hotel Equatoria has pool and gym, accessible by minibus. 5,000 sh per day; 10,000 sh weekends.

• Sheraton has round shallow pool and gym for 10,000 sh per day. Their monthly rate is $200. Not worth it I don't think. 7am to 10 pm. Equatoria is better.

• Pool on Makerere Campus.

• Nicest pool is at Windsor Lake Vic hotel in Entebbe if you can get a ride out there for the day. 5,000 sh per day to swim. Excellent restaurant. View of Lake Victoria. Also Entebbe Botanical gardens and zoo nearby. Swimming also at Botanical Beach Hotel with large indoor swimming pool.

• Aerobics, yoga at 18 Nakasero Road

• Golf: Kampala Golf Club, Kitante Road or Entebbe Golf Club

• Racket ball: Kampala Club, Ternan Avenue, daily membership available

Horse riding, rugby, sailing, white water rafting, flying, paragliding also available.

HEALTH

You are required to have yellow fever, cholera and typhoid vaccinations. Start early with these shots because some require boosters. Hepatitis B is also highly recommended. They don't check your health cards when entering, but that is no excuse not to have them.

If you can, get a Medex card for emergency evacuation. These can be obtained here at UW-Madison.

Only drink boiled water and if unsure, drink sodas or bottled water.

It is recommended that visitors to Uganda take anti malarial medication. The use of mosquito repellants and nets are recommended.

Avoid street food if at all possible. I have seen too many students eat this food and get seriously ill with worms and other unspeakable problems that can put you out of commission for a good week to ten days. It's not worth the hassle even if it does taste and smell good and is cheap.

Be sure that wet clothing is dried on a line and then ironed, even underwear. There are insects that embed themselves in wet laundry and then may migrate to the skin if not ironed well.

MEDICAL

Physicians

Dr. Ian Clarke, International Medical Centre, Old Norman Centre, Kampala Road
phone 341-291, fax 342-608, mobile 077-741291 (24 emergency service)
ambulance service: 077-200400/1

Dr. E. R. Gibbons, Dr. Stockley (US Embassy)
12a Parliament Avenue
phone 256-003

Dentists

Dr. Musawwir Ahmad
3 Entebbe Road
phone 256-880

Dr. Paul Okello Alliker
50 Lumumba Ave.
phone 254-858, 077-721511

Mengo hospital now has state of the art dental facilities.

Eye Care

Eye Care Centre provides free eye exams and glasses/contacts
Plot 3, Johnson St.
Phone: 257-759/ 344-712
Mobile: 077-786-400

SECURITY

Kampala is relatively safe during the day but don't go out walking at night anywhere. Even early in the morning 5 am. Always use taxis or other vehicles at night when going to restaurants.

Forex bureaus are probably mostly safe but there are enough robberies involving shootouts to make one wary. The Sheraton forex is a better bet or a bank.

Watch your bag at all times, even when riding in a vehicle. Lock car doors when driving. Be careful about wearing expensive looking necklaces and bracelets that can be grabbed through a car window.

Don't leave things in car unattended even if the car door is locked.

Don't take any heirlooms or anything you would miss terribly with you.

Avoid the taxi park, Owino market, local outdoor bars if the grenade attacks are still going on.

Pay attention to the political situation. There were demonstrations on campus and downtown in January 2002 at which one journalism student was shot and killed. You want to be aware of what is going on in this respect as the political situation is changing. The random ADF grenade attacks at the taxi park and outdoor restaurants seem to have come to an end thankfully.

“Don't tempt the angels!” as Dan Mudoola, the late MISR director, advised all visitors.

USEFUL NUMBERS

Ambulance, Fire, Police 999

Doctor emergency (Int'l Medical Centre) 077-741291

Doctor: The Surgery, Emergency 075-756003

Electrical failure 254071/7, 231-770

Kampala Central Police Station 254-561

Operator 0900

Talking Pages

Celtel 800

MTN 133

UTL 343888

Uganda Telecom 256-151, 258-855

HOW TO AVOID BEING 'TAKEN FOR A RIDE'

• Make sure you don't confuse 1,000 sh notes with 10,000 sh notes. They look similar as do the 100 and 200 sh coins until you get used to them.

• Expect to pay somewhat more than Ugandans. Pricing has to do with who is buying even for Ugandans and realize that this is the way it is. At the same time, you don't want to be completely taken. So here are a few suggestions:

• Always ask for receipts even if you don't need them. Have small cash on hand because people might say they don't have change and then you are stuck.

• Ask Ugandan colleagues about prices of fruit and vegetables so you know the ballpark figure.

• Ask Ugandan colleagues about taxi (special hire) and minibus prices for various distances.

• Make lots of Ugandan friends or a few close ones and consult with them about what is the proper way to do things, how to understand things and people.

• If you receive change for a purchase, check it.

• Count money when you have exchanged dollars unless you saw it go through the counter. Sometimes they slip in smaller denominations. Also make sure the counter is set on 0 before they start counting.

• If someone has cheated you never blow up. It may be an innocent mistake. Ugandans despise direct confrontations or any kind of direct accusation or inquiry. Find a roundabout way of asking.

• People will approach you for assistance. Carefully listen to the stories of individuals whom you meet, and make your own informed decision about who you are going to assist. This is a toughie . . . there are many needs.