One Health Uganda
Accommodations
You will be staying at hotel accommodations throughout the program.
UC Davis reserves the right to change the accommodation location. Should this be necessary, we will arrange alternative lodging. Please note that elevators, air conditioners and other modern conveniences may not be available in all locations.
Meals
All meals are included in your program; students, the instructor and On-Site Coordinator will be eating together as a group. Breakfast is included at the hotels and group lunches and dinners are included at all program sites. There are plenty of options for vegetarian and vegan diets.
Excursions & Activities
Tentative excursions and activities include:
- Tours of the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, National Animal Disease Diagnostic Center and Lab and Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe.
- Visits to two national wildlife conservation parks: Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Guided drives and tours at the national parks.Hear from the One Health Secretariat in the Ministry of Health in Kampala.
- Activities with Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (COVAB).
- Visits to various historical cultural sites in Kampala and an evening cultural gala.
Please note: These activities and excursions are tentative and subject to change.
Get to Know Your Destination
Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, is an amazing place of adventure and learning on human, livestock and wildlife interaction. This amazing friendly country is endowed with beauty and diversity in nature to give you first-hand experience on the interconnectedness between the health of the environment, people, livestock and wildlife. This is a traveling program with stops in five major cities, exploring most of Western Uganda. It is a program full of unforgettable memories, fun, adventure, cultural immersion and serious learning.
Entebbe
We land in Entebbe, by the shores of Lake Victoria (the world’s largest tropical lake and second largest freshwater lake) and we take this time to visit the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre and get an introduction to some of Uganda’s wildlife while enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Victoria. Entebbe is also home to the National Animal Disease Diagnostic Center and Lab and Uganda Virus Research Institute; we will visit these centers and learn about their role in “One Health”. We spend a few days here learning about zoonotic diseases, and the livestock industry and wildlife in Uganda.
Lake Mburo National Park
Our upcountry adventure starts when we depart for Western Uganda, stopping first at the equator to take photos before arriving at Lake Mburo National Park, home to some of the world’s largest biodiversity. It is here that you will experience true human, livestock, and wildlife interaction and how they collide with wildlife conservation, the quality of the environment, and “One Health.” The wildlife at this national park includes leopards, buffalos, zebras, elands, impalas, jackals, hyenas, warthogs, hippos, and over 300 species of birds.
Mbarara
We will stop in Mbarara for a few days to visit the Igongo Cultural Centre and meet with staff and faculty at Mbarara University of Science and Technology to discuss their research on “One Health” issues.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Next, we will arrive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The diversity of landscape is remarkable—from grasslands and tundra to tropical forests and wetlands—with stunning views of Lake Edward and Lake George. Some of the most notable wildlife here include lions, elephants, leopards, hyenas, jackals, buffaloes, antelopes, and Defassa waterbucks. Here you will continue to explore the human, livestock, and wildlife interaction within and surrounding the national park, while engaging with local community members.
Kampala
Next, we will take the adventure one notch higher and travel to Kampala, Uganda’s Capital City, for a tour of national and international organizations in charge of human, animal and environmental health, including the One Health Secretariat in the Ministry of Health. We will spend time at Makerere University, engaging with staff and faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (COVAB), continuing our discussion of “One Health.” We will also tour historical cultural sites and take in sights at the source of the Nile (the world’s longest river), located just a few kilometers away from the capital city. We will celebrate our last night in Kampala by attending a dinner and cultural gala.
Depart from Entebbe
We return to Entebbe on the last day of the program. From there you may return home or continue your travels in Uganda or elsewhere.
From Lonely Planet Uganda: “Nature – diverse and resplendent – looms large in Uganda. And Ugandans have worked hard to create and maintain national parks and conservation zones for its incredible biodiversity."
- Lonely Planet – Entebbe
- Lonely Planet – Kampala
- Lonely Planet – Southwestern Uganda
- New York Times Coverage – Uganda
Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk
Participation in this UC Davis Study Abroad program requires travel to and extended living in a foreign location(s) abroad. UC Davis Study Abroad endeavors to reduce and mitigate risk wherever possible. However, the environments and risks associated with living in these locations are substantially different than those found during a regular course of study at UC Davis. All participants must download and review the following information prior to departure. Any questions should be directed to the Program Coordinator.
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