Global May Uganda

The East African country of Uganda is characterized by the beauty and resilience of its natural landscape as well as that of the people who live there. How Ugandans have sought their livelihoods, developed their culture, and pursued peace, security and prosperity in their lives will be the focus of this three week program. Students will spend a third of their time in Uganda's bustling capital, Kampala, attending lectures at Makerere University and in interactive visits of sites, organizations, and with people that embody historical and contemporary Uganda. Students will also consider issues facing rural Ugandans in a number of communities. Rural health, education, agriculture, the environment and tourism will be explored from bases in Kamuli and Jinja towns, east of Kampala, as well as in the northern town of Gulu, where students will learn about the roots and legacies of conflict in Northern Uganda. Finally, a visit to Murchison National Park will immerse students in Uganda's natural environment. Above all the program will promote engagement with many representatives of Ugandan society: educators, professionals, artists, politicians, students, activists and others who advocate for Ugandans' human security.

Locations

Kampala is a vibrant city of over a million people which has experienced tremendous growth in the last decade. The urban landscape features the opportunities this has brought, in the form of new businesses, shopping malls, inspired artistic expression and easy access to digital and other media. Kampala's snarled traffic, inconsistent power supply, and slums attest to the challenges of such rapid growth. The facilities of the School for International Training, situated in a busy neighborhood a few miles from the city center, generates its own academic ambiance, contained and yet fully reflective of the issues affecting the society outside its gates. The towns of Jinja and Kamuli, east of Kampala host more relaxed and less frenetic environments, and provide their own perspectives on Uganda's history and on present and future developments in such areas as agriculture, health, energy, trade, and the environment.