Uganda is one of the friendliest nations you can visit in Africa – and even the world – with their wonderful hospitality earning the top spot in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel rankings just a few years ago. And if the hospitality isn’t enough to rope you in, Uganda is also known for amazing food (chicken stew, plantains, donuts, and so much more!) and incredible wildlife.
Despite Uganda’s allure, it is among the poorest countries in the world and truly in need of aid. Many Ugandans live on less than one dollar per day, and the country’s population is among the youngest in the world. Half of Uganda’s citizens are under the age of 14 – and as a result, there is a great need for volunteers like you to help with everyday care and support. Hospitals and schools are shorthanded and are barely equipped with the necessary means to stay operational, many children are orphaned or have very young parents, HIV/AIDS is prevalent nationwide, and general health knowledge is not widely known or understood among the country’s population.
As the infrastructure of local villages collapses, you can be there to help build community centers and schools to provide educational and vocational training opportunities. You can volunteer to teach English and other subjects such as math, social sciences, physical education, and basic health both to children and to adults. And you can provide basic childcare and other support services to young parents and within community centers caring for children in need. In Uganda, there’s so much you can do as a volunteer to improve the quality of life for even one person. You will be welcomed as a friend, and you will leave as family.
Are you ready to embark on your African adventure? If so, read on to learn about the many wonderful volunteer opportunities you can participate in to make a difference in Uganda!
Great Volunteer Opportunities in Uganda
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Volunteering Solutions offers an incredible array of volunteering opportunities in Uganda, designed to make a meaningful impact while providing an enriching experience for participants. Volunteers can choose from placements in and around the Mukono region, just a short drive from Kampala. Whether you can commit to a few weeks or several months, Volunteering Solutions accommodates a variety of schedules with flexible durations from 1 to 18 weeks. Known for its affordability and comprehensive support, VolSol ensures that volunteers are well taken care of with provided meals and accommodation. Established in 2007, the organization has successfully placed over 21,000 volunteers worldwide, offering a trusted and impactful way to explore the beauty and culture of Uganda while contributing to grassroots projects. Volunteers also have the chance to embark on incredible weekend tours and safaris, adding to the adventure and cultural immersion of their stay.
Volunteers in the Construction and Community Development Program in Uganda have the unique opportunity to work closely with local villagers, engaging in various tasks that significantly impact the community. The work involves construction projects, assisting Self Help Groups and civil society organizations, and conducting awareness drives. This program is ideal for gap year travelers who enjoy fieldwork and vocational training. Volunteers team up to renovate local infrastructures and participate in educational training workshops and project monitoring.
Volunteers must be 17 years or older, open-minded, enthusiastic, and physically fit. The volunteer roles include construction, site preparation, beautification, and community development initiatives like business training, microfinancing for women, environmental conservation, and sanitation projects. The schedule includes orientation, daily work from Tuesday to Friday, and free weekends for exploration. Accommodation is provided in a volunteer house with meals, and transportation is organized for project locations.
The Volunteer Teaching Program in Uganda aims to provide educational support to underprivileged children by placing volunteers in local schools and teaching centers. Volunteers assist in teaching English, science, and math, and can help with administrative tasks and fundraising for school supplies. This program offers a valuable opportunity to break the cycle of poverty through education, focusing on English language classes, cultural exchanges, and educational murals. Volunteers must be 17 years or older, flexible, proactive, and passionate about working with children.
The roles include assisting local teachers, creating lesson plans, providing computer training, and conducting awareness drives on hygiene and school spirit. The schedule mirrors the construction program, with orientation on Monday, volunteer work from Tuesday to Friday, and free weekends. Accommodation is in a volunteer house with provided meals, and transportation to project sites is arranged.
The Medical Volunteer Program in Uganda is designed for medical interns, students, and professionals looking to gain hands-on experience in local hospitals and clinics. Volunteers are placed in healthcare centers with over 140 beds, offering opportunities in various departments like radiology, dental, pediatric, surgery, maternity, and outpatient care. Volunteers also participate in health workshops and camps, assisting with tasks such as wound dressing, taking vital signs, patient assistance, and general support to medical staff.
Participants must be 18 years or older, enrolled in medical studies, and provide necessary documents, including a clean criminal background check. The schedule includes an orientation on Monday, volunteer work from Tuesday to Friday, and free weekends. Volunteers are accommodated in a volunteer house with meals provided, and transportation to project sites is organized.
What Volunteers Say: Review by Victoria P:
I have the most positive impressions from the program in Uganda. As a mature volunteer on my first trip in Sub-Saharan Africa, I was a bit concerned beforehand, but I felt totally supported and safe throughout my journey, both through the Volunteering Solutions Operations Office and the local team. The local coordinators were amazing, and completely dedicated to what they do. The work was fulfilling, varied, and flexible. I learned a lot, through the voluntary projects, our conversations with the local coordinator, and the sightseeing. I definitely recommend this program to any volunteers who wish to contribute to some of the most vulnerable communities, in a location that’s off the beaten track.
As one of the world’s fastest-growing volunteer abroad organizations, Love Volunteers invites you to embark on volunteer and intern programs in more than 30 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific. Since the organization’s founding, over 20,000 volunteers have traveled to help communities with teaching, medical care, child care, and so much more – and Love Volunteers is on track to place more than 4,000 volunteers in the field this year. Right now, Love Volunteers offers three placements in Uganda: child care, teaching, and medical and health.
Another option you can sign up for with Love Volunteers is their teaching program, where you’ll volunteer in one of many schools throughout Uganda that suffer from staff shortages, lack of funding, and limited resources. These schools often are attended by orphans and underprivileged children, making these classrooms their only opportunity to build a successful future. In order to provide these children with the education they deserve, you will teach a wide range of subjects, including English, math, science, physical education, health, and HIV awareness and prevention.
You can also plan different sporting activities and games for recess and after school. Plus, many schools in the region where you’ll work are developing sustainable projects like gardens, farms, and water sanitation programs that you can assist with, meaning there’s no shortage of activities you can take on during your stay in Uganda.
If you’re a medical student or professional and would like to gain experience and knowledge working in a developing nation, Love Volunteers’ medical care program may be the right fit for you. Depending on your qualifications, you will work directly with the patients or perform office duties – you may even have the opportunity to assist in surgeries or spend part of your time shadowing a local doctor. Many clinics and hospitals throughout the country cannot afford the same materials and resources as those you might be used to, so this is an excellent learning opportunity and a great way to exercise your creativity and resourcefulness while providing the best care for the patients you’ll meet.
For more information about volunteering in Uganda, and to learn about all the other amazing opportunities offered through Love Volunteers, please click here.
What Volunteers Say: Review from Sandra
I spent 4 weeks in a small town in Ngora. It was a great experience! I volunteered at the health center, where I delivered babies, worked in the lab, the inpatient ward and did immunizations. I was able to experience Ugandan culture and to learn new ways of providing nursing care.
Based in the US, A Broader View is a nonprofit organization offering nearly 250 different volunteer programs in 25 countries worldwide. Since 2007, they have sent over 12,000 volunteers overseas and have donated $3,000,000 to their partners around the world. Some of the projects you can choose from include HIV/AIDS prevention, social welfare, community development, child care, and much more. Right now, A Broader View offers several different placements in Bulenga and Mukono, Uganda, including medical care, community development, children’s education, midwifery, and child care.
One of the many programs A Broader View offers in Uganda is a community development opportunity, where you can help with a variety of projects, including:
- Constructing a library in a small village
- Assisting with a piggery and farm project
- Supporting a community center through health talks
- Teaching children in a local school
During this program, you can expect to work Monday through Friday for eight hours a day – plus there will be plenty of time on weekends for you to explore the area, make new friends, and immerse yourself in Ugandan culture.
If you have medical training or expertise, you can sign up for A Broader View’s maternity/midwifery program in Bulenga, Uganda, where you’ll have the chance to assist with maternity services and diagnosis, as well as treatment of malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, and many other illnesses and diseases. Through this placement, you’ll help with providing contraceptive services, immunization for infants, antenatal care, ultrasound scan services, and HIV/AIDS counseling and testing. Health education is also a key part of this program, as many of the patients you’ll meet are expectant and nursing teen mothers, who will need as much education as they can receive to begin their new journey of motherhood. Finally, you may take part in community outreach programs, which allow you to travel to different areas to help educate and create awareness of the risks of common diseases encountered throughout Uganda.
For more information about these three volunteer programs and all that A Broader View has to offer, please click here.
What Volunteers Say: Review from Sarah
My 18 year old daughter and I had decided to spend a week working in the orphanage in Bulenga, Uganda with ABV before working in Kampala on a project of mine and then exploring other parts of Uganda, and our plans were somewhat complex. Early in the planning stages I had to change the dates a few times, and I am very grateful to ABV for their flexibility and support. I also felt very well prepared by the US staff for the trip with well-organized contact numbers both here and abroad and with in-depth descriptions of the projects, country, living situation, and expectations… My favorite memory of the trip is teaching four young, wildly enthusiastic and grateful 12 yr old girls mathematics in a tiny, brick room with red-clay floors, no windows or door, a chicken clucking at my heels and a baby (who had wandered into the classroom and asked to be held) in my arms. After we completed the lessons with me writing on a slab of slate propped against a wall and a tattered piece of cloth (shared with another classroom and passed back and forth through a small hole in the wall) used as an eraser, we decided to sing children’s songs, clapping for one another and trying to make music together. These kids and the adults working with them somehow navigate their extraordinarily challenging lives with unbridled positivity and love.
Are you ready to travel?
Uganda is filled with so many amazing opportunities for anyone looking to make a difference in the lives of others. Each of the programs listed above offers multiple opportunities for you to find the best experience where you can build friendships and make memories that will last a lifetime. Pack your bags, find your passport, and start planning your Ugandan adventure today!
Want to learn more about volunteering in Africa? Check out these articles:
Volunteer Projects & Programs in Kenya
Volunteer Projects & Programs in Tanzania
Volunteer Projects & Programs in Ghana
Jordyn Hotchkiss ยท Guest Writer
Jordyn Hotchkiss is a Guest Volunteer Travel Writer for Volunteer Forever.