Uganda, Africa Missions
Basic Uganda Facts In 1965 Uganda and South Korea were at about the same point on the developing nation scale, yet today South Korea is a strong, industrial nation, while Uganda is impoverished. The reason for this discrepancy rests clearly with poor post colonization leadership, the tyrant Idi Amin from 71 - 79, and a subsequent civil war. It is only since 1986 that Uganda has had opportunity to move forward again but by then, it had almost been driving back to the 1800s .
- Population: 23,000,000
- Life expectancy 42 years (1 in 12 Ugandans is an orphan)
- Income: 44% make less than 60,000 shillings ($34.00) per month
- Geography: Landlocked nation of 91,000 square miles (about the size of lower Michigan)
- Neighbors: North – Sudan; East – Kenya; South - Tanzania, Rwanda; West - Congo
- Language: English is the official language with a significant number of native Swahili dialects spoken
- Religion: Protestants 33%, Roman Catholic 33%, Indigenous 19%, Muslim 15%
- Distribution by Region Central 27% or 7.1 million
- Western 26% or 6.8 million
- Eastern 25% or 6.7 million
- Northern 22% or 6.1 million
- Distribution by Religious Faith Catholics 41.9% Church of Uganda 35.9% Moslems 12.1% Pentecostals 4.6%
- Population by Age Children, less than 18 years of age = 15.0 million Youths, age 18 - 30 = 6.0 million Adults, age 30 - 60 = 4.6 million Elderly, 60 years of age and above 1.2 = million
- Gender Overall, there are 95 males per 100 females
- The biggest tribe is the Baganda, who make up 17.3% of the population, followed by Banyankole with 9.8%, Basoga 8.6% and Bakiga 7.0%.
- The smallest tribe is the Vonoma with only 128 people by the time of the census, 60 males and 48 females.
- Other tribes with less than 10,000 people were Mvuba with 870, Mening 2,227, Bahehe 3,403 and Batwa 6,738.
- The biggest eight tribes make up 70% of the population, while the remaining over 40 tribes constitute 30%.
- Census highlights
- 97% of households use firewood
- 92% do not have electricity
- 48% of households have a radio
- 49% rely on word of mouth as main source of information
- 17% have no access to toilet facilities
- 56% are children below 18 years
- 12% live in urban areas
- Gender ratio is 95 males to 100 females
- Average household size is 4.7 persons
- One in every 25 persons has a disability
- Literacy rate 68%
- 61% have access to safe drinking water
- 77% engage in agriculture
- 1.8 million orphans have lost at least one parent
- 75% use kerosene candles (tadooba) as main source of light
- 4.5% have a TV set
Source: www.ugandamission.net
Trip Overview:
Our mission trips to Uganda are designed to give you hands on missionary life experience working with local native pastors in country. We often assist a church to do evangelism, basketball and youth ministry in the small town. The people are very open to the Gospel and receptive to our ministry.
A mission trip to Uganda typically lasts 10-12 days. We fly out of Atlanta through Washington D.C. and arrive in Entebbe, Uganda in approximately 18-20 hours.
This trip is an incredible African experience that will have an impact on you for the rest of your life.
Our trips are designed to encourage this church and reach out into the community to do evangelism and leave them with some new believers to begin there new walk with Christ.
Mission Work In Country:
We often lead youth camps, children’s day camps, medical clinics and
sports ministry.
We have constructed a basketball court in the center of the town on a previous mission trip.
We travel by foot to nearby villages and lead children’s ministry and share the gospel with village residents.
Food, Lodging & Transportation:
The team flies into Entebbe which is 1 hour from the capital city
Kampala. We then travel by bus to the city of Hoima which about 4 hours northwest of Kampala.
Hoima is not ‘on the way to anywhere’. It is one of the bigger towns in Uganda although it is very remote. It is home of the King of the Banyoro People.
The weather is tropical and beautiful year-round. They harvest tea, sugar cane and sorghum.
The food consists of lots of starch ie rice, potatoes, posho and millet. You will be served chicken and goat and beans. You will eat much tropical fruit.
Expect to walk to most locations for ministry. At times you will travel via a boda boda which is a taxi bike.
Lodging is very good for Uganda standards. You will stay in a hotel with rooms that each have a bathroom with shower and sleep 2 to 3 people.
Dress Code:
Packing for Your Trip
Pack Smart – Consider the following:
- Climate of your assigned country
- Culture of your assigned country
- Your project assignment ( construction, revival services, backyard Bible Schools)
Guidelines for Dress
- Modest, rather than shocking and trendy clothing
- Comfortable, but not sloppy outfits
- Low-maintenance clothes in basic colors
- Washable fabrics, no dry clean only
Women
- no tank tops, no cropped tops which show stomach
- one piece bathing suit
- dresses for church services that are knee length
- shorts that are about 6 inches above the knee or longer
Men
- swimming trunks that fit properly
- no tank tops
- please avoid bringing ragged or extremely baggy pants
- jeans are not acceptable for evening services
Please be aware that you do not want to offend people before you ever open your mouth. We must be considerate of the culture and want to maintain a spirit of excellence in our dress that glorifies God and does not call attention to ourselves.
Passport and Vaccination Requirements:
Passport
Traveling to Uganda requires an up to date U.S. passport. You can apply for a passport using the following link -- www.travel.state.gov
Vaccinations
The following link will guide you in obtaining the correct information regarding vaccination requirements for traveling to Uganda.
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica.htm
Group Size & Age:
The team can consist of teens and families as well as individuals with a heart for getting personally involved in ministry. We can accommodate groups from 10 – 40 people.
Travel Status:
October 2007 – Closed
2008 – Open --- We can customize the dates of this trip for you and your group in 2008
Registration Deadline:
Early planning helps to enjoy a productive mission trip. Please plan your trip according to the time line. A firm commitment should be made at least 3 months prior to travel.
Cost:
A mission trip to Uganda ranges in cost from $3,000 - $3,800 depending on the time of year and airline ticket fees. MCM provides and pays all tolls and exit taxes, the cost of a visa, airline tickets, travel insurance, meals and lodging.
Apply: Hot Link to Sign Up Page
Questions about this trip: Contact MCM
