Clothing for your Uganda Trip

Items indicated with * are those things which are available in Masaka.  Hence, if you are short on  space or heavy on weight, you might choose to purchase them once you arrive in Uganda.  Of course, there are markets with lots of used clothing so if you don’t bring a certain article of clothing and discover a need for it, you can always find it in the market! Most toiletries are available in supermarkets but if you are brand loyal, you might want to consider bringing enough for your whole trip.   Insect repellent, anti-itch ointments (Benadryl, Calamine lotion, etc) and medications are best brought from home.

 

Clothing:

 

§         Long sleeve shirts (for evening, light colors are a good idea)

§         Hiking pants (comfortable, light-weight, fast-drying)

§         Warm-up pants, jogging pants, tear-aways, etc

§         Socks

§         Underwear

§         Shorts

§         Skirts (they are comfortable in the heat and culturally acceptable if below the knees)

§         Cool, comfortable T-shirts

§         One ‘nice’ outfit (for church or other, should still maintain a high comfort level)

§         A warm fleece (evenings, especially in the wet season when it gets cool at night)

§         Something comfortable to sleep in (temperature will range from uncomfortably hot to cool at night, depending on time of year)

§         Comfortable shoes (hiking boots, running shoes, sports sandals)

§         Baseball cap/sun hat/bandana (protection from the sun)

§         Rain gear (possibly Gore-Tex, depending on the season of travel)

 

 

Keep in mind that you need to be comfortable. It will likely be very hot and you have to hand-wash all of your clothes. Hence, heavier, hard-to-wash items are not recommended. In most circumstances, it is acceptable for women to wear tank tops, but discretion needs to be used. Ask if you are unsure. Opened-toed shoes/sandals are almost always acceptable and are worn by most locals and visitors. However, be aware that you will susceptible to a lot of dust and may invite jiggers. So, its better to wear clothed toe shoes outdoors.

 

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Social Behavior in Uganda

These are just tips to get you started. You can always ask your mentors!

Relating to the Children

The children will refer to you as “Auntie” (women) or “Uncle” (men) as a sign of respect. Throughout central Uganda, females will also kneel to those older and to males while greeting. It is not expected that female visitors would do such, and you’ll find that the children will adapt their behavior depending on the individual’s culture and preference. For example, some of the girls will not kneel to foreigners, understanding their preference is for girls not to kneel and no disrespect is intended. The children will respect your privacy, only entering your room with permission, but you’ll find them to be affectionate, open and inquisitive.

Romance & Relationships

The area of opposite sex relations causes most culture clashes. Relationships are conducted in different ways in Uganda, compared to the west, and you’ll need to be careful in your interactions with members of the opposite sex and with young ones, who have no way of recognizing that your behavior is indicative of a cultural difference and not an intended action. In Uganda, single men and women are discouraged from spending a great deal of time together as it is likely to be interpreted that the relationship is leading to marriage and you are courting. Public displays of affection are actively discouraged and rarely seen, even between husband an d wife. The one exception is that close friends of the same sex, particularly men, can be seen grasping and walking hand in hand. We would ask you to be flexible and respect the local culture and customs in these regards, but recognize as well that these are not laws or rules that cannot be bent. Please consider though that your intended meaning will be seen within the framework of someone raised here and so may be construed inappropriately.

Time Consciousness

Time can be accounted differently in Africa, and Uganda is not an exception. It’s not true however to say that Africans cannot keep time; just as it is not true that people from more developed countries value keeping time over family and human relationships. Travel and activities take longer in Uganda and this is reflected in meetings that start late, etc. Each culture has something to learn from the other. We suggest you practice patience, bringing a book with you if you need to have something to d o while waiting at various times. Enjoy being here, knowing that patience is a good quality to develop!

Clothing

As with most countries, the acceptable practices for clothing depend on specific location and culture. Travel to any town center, including Jinja, is considered an event worthy of dressing in your best, neatly pressed clothes. You may want to bring sunglasses, a hat, and a lightweight sweater/jacket for the evenings or rainy weather. Following are suggestions to avoid causing offense in your choice of clothing. 

Women’s

Masaka and Kampala are becoming more progressive and women can be seen wearing trousers, but in rural villages, this may actually be seen as an invitation to prostitution. Our best recommendation to women is that trousers are acceptable, but shorts for holidays or outings should not be worn. If you feel you must wear shorts, we recommend you never wear them off the base compound, as exposing the thigh is considered offensive and/or suggestive. Women in Uganda typically wear skirts or dresses, with the thighs always being covered, and with underskirts obscuring the outline of legs.

Men’s

Men do wear shorts, but these typically cover the thighs, unless they are on sports teams in current, active play.

Shoes

Sandals are typical in Uganda, for both men and women. A sturdy and comfortable pair of walking shoes that can look nice in dusty or muddy conditions is most helpful. In addition, the volunteer cordinator will help you find a pair of house slippers (“flip-flops”) for you to wear around the house. These are more comfortable and easier to clean than a full pair of sandals.