I have an upcoming business trip to Kampala. I've never flown into Entebbe, or even been to Uganda, so any tips or advice would be gratefully received.
Arrived in Entebbe late one hot humid night after a long haul, was clearing customs when the rather large customs official found my artificial fag and associated capsules. Try as I might I couldn't get him to understand what they were.
I eventually seemed to be granted the Fools Pardon and was sent on my way. Not fun while it lasted, he seemed to be convinced they were narcotics of some sort...
My grandmother was chased up a tree by a rhino in Uganda many decades ago. You probably won't need to worry about that happening during your visit. That would be because of the predilections of a certain species of rhino abuser, as opposed to an animal species, although the point of argument is a moot one, to compensate for their sexual disfunction by consuming powdered rhino horn. I commend for your further reading a work by ZHOU Lei and DUONG Bich Hanh, entitled Sex Work in the Sino-Vietnamese Borderlands. It's very interesting and here, to save you considerable trouble, is the link. http://www.viet-studies.info/kinhte/...VN_Aug2011.PDF
not been to Uganda, but to some of the next door countries.
drink only bottled water. go for a prference in food that is well cooked (salads and fruit unless you peel it can weak havoc on your intestinal tract) this goes for 'top' hotels too.
also, i used to have my own medical kit with me, with bandages, syringes, cannualas, latex/nitrile gloves (and my own saline drips) it's worth considering...
also have a plastic bag to keep local currency in, many locals tend to stuff their paper money in their socks for safe keeping, so it gets a tad 'stinky' and it takes months of washing of your clothes to get rid of the aroma.
aside from that, and the malarial advice sit back, enjoy the ride and you'll get to understand the expression WTA (Welcome to Africa).
No visit is complete without a bottle of Waragi. It's like gin, only made from bananas. Gold seal only, the most expensive, but at least they distil the taste of the bananas out. Bring some back, if you remember who you are. There's an old airfield on the slopes of Kololo hill, for sightseeing. They had Independence there, in 1962. And the Pope, later. Don't go near the water because of bilharzia, no matter what they say, or how much the beach lido on Lake Vic cost them. The swimming pool at the Apollo Hotel (Sheraton?) is actually 2nd hand, came from Gib. (yes I know, but that's what I was told). Maybe they meant the island, you can get to it via an underwater passageway thru a door alongside the bar. The pool used to be one of Idi's hangouts. Mumble mumble.
I need my nurse.
Yes, just after Idi. Co-pilot had been raised there, and asked if he could go 'up Country' to visit his old homestead. I had visions of being the first 707 Captain to fly solo next day, but agreed. ( F/ Eng excepted )
He came back visibly shaken, just about recognised his old family coffee plantation now totally overgrown and derelict and was greeted with joy by all his fathers' old staff, who begged him to come back and start the farm again. (thinks ? why didn't they do it by themselves - but I won't go there )
I don't like Afica. It's so dangerous to go outside. Bang bang and you gone!
ps its AfRica...
You get the keyboard spray award for May, whether it was a naive comment or irony I don't care... its bloody funny
Bar Fly, take your advice from those who have been there and done that over time, rather than the tourists, would be my advice. Africa is a wonderful place, Its Gods Continent...
Treat everyone as you would wish to be treated yourself and you won't go far wrong.
And... get linked into the ex-pat social scene and learn how to consume vast amounts of .... well you can guess the rest.
You'll make friends for life even if you're only their for a few weeks.
I have to say, this is a really interesting thread. I've never been to Africa and the only things I know about Uganda are from childhood reading of Willard Price books so it's amazing to hear what far away places are really like.
Spirits made out of bananas and second hand swimming pools with underground passages; a true testiment to human ingenuity.
Uganda is great. The people are generally friendly but be aware that there are always those around who would be pleased to relieve you of possessions and even life if you make a fuss. The beer is not bad (not great either), although I prefer Bell to the other stuff. Tilapia fillets for brekkie and Nile perch on the grill make for good eating. Red meat not so great but the butchery techniques are a bit primitive. One exception is a Belgian restaurant in Kampala attached to a butchery which turns out some good stuff. Try the garlic steak with a knob of garlic butter almost as big as your fist melting on top. Order it blue and scoff with slivers of butter and fresh rolls.
Waragi is evil stuff. Try not to drink too much of it and you'll be fine. The Lake Vic hotel in EBB is a nice old colonial place. Rumour has it the military staff were getting pissed on the terrace when the Israelis made their presence known. They immediately bombshelled to go hide in their bathrooms in case they were the targets of the Israeli's wrath.
Also, landing on 35 or departing off 17, you'll cross the Equator as you pass a small island about 1000m from the threshold.
Thanks for the information everyone. Mine is a two day visit and I'm planning to stay in what appears to be on of the best hotels in Kampala - The Serena. Frankly, apart from daylight meetings, I think it's unlikely that I will leave there during my stay. Perhaps I'd feel more adventurous if I wasn't traveling alone. I've sorted out my Malerone and jabs, so I'm all set.
so it's amazing to hear what far away places are really like. 
