Electives by medical students and other healthcare professionals have been popular for many years and have benefitted both the students and the hosts. Demand is very high and places are often booked for at least a year ahead. It is unlikely that you will find an elective placement at Kisiizi at short notice. Click on the individual links below for 1] information letter to visitors; 2] to check probable availability for the dates you are considering. We cannot currently keep this information live so some details may be out of date in that it is possible there are occasional cancellations or slots may have been allocated to other visitors since the information was last updated. We will try and update it reasonably frequently. 3] To download an application.
Please do not send in an application form if the dates are not available as this simply creates extra administration time in Kisiizi for staff who are already busy with patients! Thank you.

At present the number of students at any one time is limited to four in order to ensure we can accommodate them and supervise them adequately.
Availability info on banner link below...

High Commission of the Republic of Uganda,
Uganda House, 58-59 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DX
020 7839 5783; FAX 020 7839 8925
Opening hours 10am—1pm Monday—Friday except Ugandan and UK bank holidays
Can submit in person or by post if send stamped self-addressed registered envelope.
Processing visa takes one working day.

Prices of Visas:
Follow link on Information Sheet.

WHERE TO STAY
Africa Inland Mission have a Guest house “Matoke Inn” at Leboa, just off the main road from Entebbe to Kampala. Run by Denis and Phillis from Canada.
PO Box 4008, Kampala
Fax 256-41-200486
E-mail: [revised] matokeinn@infocom.co.ug
[click link]

Kisiizi is a little into the southern hemisphere, in SW Uganda in the Kigezi highlands. It is about 5,400 feet above sea level [whilst Kampala is about 3500 feet] so enjoys a pleasant climate like a good English summer.
The area is one of the most densely populated in Uganda. There is no industry and most people are subsistence farmers with very little reserves if the rains fail or come too early.
It is a beautiful region, close to the Virunga volcanoes which form the boundary between Uganda, Rwanda and Zaire and are famous as home for the mountain gorillas, also found in the Impenetrable forest. The western rift valley with Lakes Edward, George and Albert with the Rwenzori “Mountains of the moon” are nearby around the equator and the Queen Elizabeth national park.

Towns:
Mbarara, 80 miles from Kisiizi, is the regional town. It has Uganda’s second medical school.
Kabale is the largest local town, about 60—90 minutes drive from Kisiizi, whilst the administrative centre for North Kigezi is Rukungiri about 60 minutes drive. The District Medical Officer is based there, and provides Kisiizi with its supplies of vaccines.

Places to visit:

National parks—Queen Elizabeth, with the backdrop of the Rwenzori “mountains of the moon”, includes a boat trip to see many birds, hippos and, if you time it right, elephants and lions.
Lake Mburo—relatively near
See Link sites for more details from the Uganda tourist board.

Lake Bunyoni [lake of little birds] with the volcano Muhavura seen in the distance if the weather is clear—canoe trips to islands with chance to swim and enjoy beautiful birds of all colours, and eat at a “café” overlooking the lake.

Mafuga is a forestry plantation about 40 min drive from Kisiizi with a view to the volcanoes, and glimpses of monkeys on occasion.

Lake Nabugabo near Masaka is a peaceful Church of Uganda camping site. It does have a series of round houses to stay in and staff will cook for you if requested. Safe to swim, lots of monkeys and birds.

DO I NEED TO SPEAK RUKIGA?
The local people are very welcoming and appreciate visitors who try to learn some Rukiga, even if it is only the formal greetings which tradition demands.
Rukiga is the language of the Bakiga tribe, one of the Bantu peoples. The language changes again after 50 miles or so. Many people in Kampala will not know Rukiga.
Basic Greeting:
Agandi = what’s the news? i.e. “how are you”
Response is “Ni gye” = it’s fine
The nurses and medical staff all speak English, the national language in Uganda. Most patients and porters will only speak Rukiga, but nurses are used to translating for ex-patriate colleagues and staff from other areas of Uganda.

WHAT IS THE TIME DIFFERENCE IN UGANDA?
East Africa is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
HOW HOT IS IT?
Kisiizi is situated in the Kigezi highlands of south-west Uganda at about 5,400 feet above sea level. Although just south of the equator, the temperature is moderated by the altitude and is often like a good English summer and humidity is low. Kampala is only about 3,500 feet above sea level so is warmer and humidity is higher.
The sun is however fierce and a hat, sunblock and a good supply of water is essential if you are travelling and walking for long periods.
Early mornings and evenings can be cool though there is never any frost. You will need some warm clothing.
Kisiizi does not have the four seasons as in UK but either Wet or Dry seasons. The dates of these are less predictable than in the past and sadly have meant problems for subsistence farmers [most of the local population] trying to grow crops but not sure when the rains will come. Tropical rains can be intense, and in buildings with bati [corrugated iron] roofs it can be hard to hear someone speak.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Clothes: mainly cotton as it is hot all the year round. In the evenings it gets cooler so bring a sweater. An umbrella and wellington boots are important in the wet season, you will be popular if you leave them behind when you leave!
Dress etiquette: [updated 2/02 with feedback from Kisiizi Management] This has changed in the past few years. It is now acceptable for women to wear trousers,and for men not to wear ties. It is acceptable for men to wear shorts, but not for work unless they are builders.
Please show sensitivity to local culture.

Swimming things: You can swim at Lake Bunyoni, about 20 mins from Kabale, which is about 90 minutes from Kisiizi. There are swimming pools at some Kampala & Mbarara hotels and it is also safe to swim at Lake Nabugabo, near Masaka, a Church of Uganda camping/rest facility. [see “Places to visit”]
Don’t swim anywhere else as there is the risk of schistosomiasis [bilharzia] as well as wildlife such as snakes and hippos [tragically a medical student in another part of Uganda died some years ago when swimming and attacked by a hippo]
Medicines: Bring your own supply of antimalarials [ESSENTIAL***] [take up to date advice from Interhealth – 157 Waterloo Road, London [see links page to contact them] and insect repellent and any prescription medicines which you may be taking.
Mosquito nets are lightweight and available impregnated with permethrin from Interhealth. They are essential if you are intending to travel around in Uganda, though are provided if you are staying in the Rose Cottage guest house at Kisiizi itself.
If you do have a chronic medical problem, you must explain this on your application form to Kisiizi.

Kisiizi is a wonderful place to visit...