This elective is based with Stand on Your Own (SOYO) at Uganda Lodge in Ruhanga, Ntungamo District. The Lodge sits beside the Ruhanga Development Nursery & Primary School, creating a unique setting where students can observe how education, health and community wellbeing intersect in rural Uganda. Students divide their time between the District General Hospital and the on-site McNeil Medical Centre, gaining experience across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, O&G and community health.
Uganda Lodge provides simple, friendly accommodation with three meals a day and daily transport to placement. The rural setting offers a welcoming community atmosphere with access to weekend trips such as Lake Bunyonyi, safaris, and gorilla trekking. The Lodge also hosts volunteers from many countries, creating a supportive and sociable environment for students.
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Elective-Suitability Rubric
To help you compare sites and make informed choices we offer this summary assessment of the sites we offer. This reflects the academic lead’s analysis in the light of site visits and the feedback available to us, but please note that staff turn-over can be high and things can change rapidly in small centres. The following is therefore for guidance only.
Dimension
Description
Comfort vs Challenge
Airport pick up and host assistance with the 6-8 hour bus transfer is advised. Uganda Lodge is comfortable with a temperate climiate due to altitude.
Accommodation is of a good standard (shared/single options), basic catering but an on-site bar and other options available in Ntongamo (8km).
Safety vs Adventure
On site safety high.
Normal precautions required elsewhere.
Road conditions locally can have heavy traffic and high accident rates. Guidance and assistance available via Denis (Head of SOYO).
There are many opportunities for travel within Uganda and beyond
Sociability vs Isolation
This will depend upon other students and volunteers on site at the time, as well as your willingness to get involved with the local community, including their primary school for 500 pupils.
Hands-on vs Observational
There is opportunity to become very involved in patient care delivery at the clinic and Itojo hospital (Govt DGH). As ever, this is enhanced by more prolonged engagement with one clinical team.
Engagement opportunities
Uganda Lodge is primarily a centre for volunteers who wish to contribute in the school and beyond. There is lots you can get involved in should you wish.
Costs and value
Mid-range – SOYO uses income from volunteers to subsidise their broader activities.
Travel / tourism
Denis can provide or guide you on a wide range of activities, including Quenn Elizabeth Game Park, the Rwenzori mountains for the ambitious (££) and Gorilla treking(££££)
Extensive opportunities in Uganda – Nile in Jinja, Murchison Falls and even Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania are accessible.
Career relevance
A general placement
Academic opportunities
Not applicable
Additional Comments and Tips specific to this host
An FTE Elective Guide is under preperation.
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Students split their time between the District General Hospital in Ntungamo and the McNeil Medical Centre at Uganda Lodge. A typical week includes ward rounds, outpatient clinics, theatre time (where available) and community outreach when running.
You will usually work Monday to Friday, with optional weekend activities arranged locally. Daily transport is provided from the Lodge to the hospital. Students are encouraged to be proactive, follow local guidance and only work within their level of training.
English is widely spoken within the clinical team, and supervision is provided by medical officers, consultants and senior staff across the hospital and community clinic.
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Students complete their elective in one main discipline for the full 4-week period. You can choose to focus on Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology or Emergency/Outpatients, depending on availability at the District General Hospital and the McNeil Medical Centre.
Within your chosen area, you’ll join ward rounds, clinics and relevant activities, gaining a clear understanding of how care is delivered in a rural district setting. Community health work may also be available alongside your main discipline.
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Students stay at Uganda Lodge, a friendly volunteer base attached to Ruhanga Development School. Most rooms are simple but comfortable, with ensuite facilities and hot and cold running water. You may be allocated a shared room with one other student, or you can request a single room for a small supplement.
Three cooked meals are provided each day in the communal dining area, and a laundry service is available. Vegetarian diets can be catered for, please let us know in advance if you have any specific dietary requirements.
The Lodge has a relaxed social atmosphere with a bar, pool and darts, and an evening firepit, as well as outdoor space with views across the surrounding hills. It is a welcoming base for meeting other students and joining optional activities around the school and local community.
Water is either bottled or filtered, and all bathrooms have flush toilets and running water.
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Uganda Lodge is located in Ruhanga, a small rural village in Ntungamo District in south-west Uganda. The area is surrounded by rolling hills, farms and quiet footpaths, making it ideal for local walks, trekking and camping. The nearest town, Ntungamo, is about 8km away and can be reached easily using Lodge transport.
The Lodge itself has a relaxed social atmosphere, with a bar, pool table, darts and a firepit for evening gatherings. Students often spend free time exploring the surrounding hills or visiting nearby communities.
The region is well placed for weekend trips to some of Uganda’s most famous attractions. From the Lodge, you can arrange:
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Chimp habituation experiences
Lake Bunyonyi
Safaris in nearby national parks
Batwa community visits
These can all be organised locally through SOYO at student-friendly prices
Not included: Flights, visa, insurance, vaccines, DBS/reference, weekend trips.
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How many students can be on site? SOYO can host up to 4 FTE students at one time, within a wider volunteer capacity of around 30.
What is the accommodation like? You’ll stay at Uganda Lodge in simple ensuite or shared rooms, with three meals a day and a laundry service. Single rooms are available for a small extra cost.
Is it safe to go out in the evenings? Yes, as long as you use Lodge transport and inform SOYO staff where you’re going. Boda bodas (motorbike taxis) are not advised.
Is English spoken in the hospital? Yes — English is widely spoken by the clinical team. Learning a few words of Runyankole is appreciated.
Can dietary needs be accommodated? Vegetarian diets can be provided. Other requirements should be discussed in advance.
Is PEP available locally? An HIV exposure protocol exists, but PEP is not reliably available. Your university may require you to bring your own supply.
Is the placement LGBTQ+ friendly? Uganda has laws criminalising homosexuality, and open displays of affection (including heterosexual) are discouraged. FTE will discuss safety and suitability individually.
What should I wear? Modest dress is required outside the Lodge to respect local norms and maintain the reputation of the project.
How do I get to placement each day? A daily return transfer to the hospital is included in your placement fee.
What’s there to do at weekends? Popular options include Lake Bunyonyi, gorilla trekking, safaris and cultural visits — all of which can be arranged locally at student rates
