Worldwide Movers - Overview

Eric Beuthin (Left), President of Worldwide Movers Africa and Director of Worldwide Movers Uganda

Worldwide Movers employs professionally trained packers and provides high quality international packing materials. Worldwide Movers has eleven years of household relocation experience in Uganda and sets demanding packing standards. Worldwide Movers can offer a well-rounded and professional relocation and forwarding service. Past experience, long standing membership to internationally recognized moving associations, and a proven track record all make for a profitable working relationship.

FAIM recognition for the supply of packing and shipping to all FIDI members is an ideal opportunity for us to provide and prove our comprehensive services.

Worldwide Movers Uganda Ltd has been a member of FIDI and the FIDI/FAIM program for the past eight years. The last certification was obtained after the FAIM audit, on 28th February 2008.

Worldwide Movers East Africa was originally established in Tanzania in 1991, and has since opened offices in Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zanzibar. Worldwide Movers Africa has a liaison office in Dubai and is majority owned and managed by American and Canadian shareholders.

The Uganda office has been established since October 1996, incorporated in March 1997, and offers full international relocation, packing, moving and storage services. The employees are recruited for their experience, honesty and competence. The administration is made up of young enthusiastic professionals with skills in export/import, freight and customs. Workshop programs, and attendance at overseas conferences with agency network partners, help to keep them abreast of up-to-date procedures and new approaches.

Training and re-training is a priority and is focused essentially on packing and crating of precious belongings, and, presentation and timely arrival of packing crews. Three crews, each comprising of one team leader an assistant supervisor and two packers, operate on a full time basis.

Worldwide Movers owns a fleet of six vehicles including two five ton trucks with an enclosed capacity of 875 cuft and a two and a half ton truck with an enclosed capacity of 420 cuft.

Packing materials are imported from South Africa and the Middle East, with the remainder obtained on the local market. Materials include various high quality corrugated fiberboard cartons, barrels, 141lt dishpacks, bubble wrap, tissue and print paper, and polythene. All materials used surpass Removal Industry standards. Our stock is continuously inventoried and stored, on pallets, at our secure warehouse facility in Bugolobi. Fire prevention and Control Plans, along with the necessary fire extinguishers and approved fire fighting apparatus are in place.

Worldwide Movers has its own domain address, fully functioning electronic mail services for rapid communication, and a web site on the Internet, advising potential agents on local customs requirements, latest regulations and clearing procedures, plus providing our customers with informative hints about their future home. The web site is available to anyone with a connection and is constantly updated. Continuous support from the liaison/purchasing office in Dubai helps to bypass the communication and material shortfalls sometimes experienced in Africa.

History
Uganda was declared a British Protectorate in 1894 along with Kenya and the Islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. The numerically and politically dominant Buganda were chosen as the ruling class. After independence in 1962, this dominant position seemed secure: however Milton Obote, from the northern Lango tribe, the very first Prime Minister, overthrew the Kabaka of Buganda, proclaimed himself President and abolished the Buganda Monarchy. In 1971, the army Chief of Staff, Idi Amin staged a coup d'état against Obote and immediately started the first reign of terror. The economy collapsed and the country literally fell apart. In 1979 with the help of Tanzanian troops, several groups in Ugandaled by Obote, banded together to overthrow Amin. With the return of Obote, the second reign of terror took place, this time directed at the Baganda and the West Nilers. Obote was overthrown by the army led by Tito Okello and soon, Yoweri Museveni's NRA took power and prepared a new constitution. Progress has been made by President Museveni's government since 1986 and Uganda has undergone relative stability and economic growth.

Language
The official language of Uganda is English. There had been much discussion concerning Uganda's official African language in parliament with a strong lobby to make Luganda the recognized local language. However, because the issue is so delicate, and the native dialects so numerous, Swahili is generally recognized as the second language of Uganda. Don't confuse Swahili spoken in Uganda with Kiswahili spoken in Tanzania. Ugandan Swahili is a greatly simplified tongue that is mostly understood across the country albeit that it is a second and sometimes third learned language for Ugandans. English is widely spoken in most business and tourist areas, but outside those places, try leaning some useful and much appreciated Swahili phrases or, even better, some words from one of the 56 native dialects of Uganda. The selection of books and language tapes in Kampala is improving and language schools are multiplying.

Kampala
The progress being made by Uganda is perhaps best seen in Kampala some times called the City of the Seven Hills. Kampala is laid out with tree-lined streets and green park areas. Kampala has the only Golf course in the middle of the city! But it seems inevitable with the new growth that large new buildings have lost Kampala its special, if somewhat faded elegance. The onetime telephone "system", street lighting and sewer system are all being replaced causing roads and sidewalks to be ripped up at astonishing speed causing much disruption to traffic and pedestrians. Kampala was built on seven hills. Nakasero Hill is the central hill on which the important government ministries, embassies, and better hotels are found. Makerere University, once set academic standards for the entire Anglophone continent south of the Sahara and many of today's Africa leaders and elite were educated there. It still manages to function today despite severe financial constraints.

Popular Destinations
Uganda boasts some of the most beautiful countryside and best game parks in the world. Make sure you visit Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park with its famous boat ride on the Kazinga channel and the mighty Rwenzori Mountains for serious outdoor people, and the Mountain Gorillas in Mgahinga National Park.

Safety
Uganda is generally a safe country and is entirely different from the "bad old days". However normal precautions should be taken in Kampala at night. Like all other African countries, the burgeoning rural population encourages the young to throng the pavements and unemployment is high. Although muggings are infrequent, it is sensible, for example, not to wear a visible watch while driving in the not-so-friendly parts of town: that watch could feed a snatch-and-grabber for a month or two. And the same goes for jewellery. Be careful when leaving the beaten track, especially when going towards the northern frontier districts where rebel skirmishes can still erupt from time to time.

Weather
There is very little seasonal variation in the climate, which is warm and slightly humid. Average daily temperatures vary between about 32C/86F maximum and 20C/77F minimum. The annual average temperature in Kampala is about 27C/77F. Rainfall is fairly evenly spread throughout the year but dry spells occur particularly in the early months of the year. There are two rainy periods, the "short rains" from mid-March to the start of May and a longer period from the end of September until December. Kampala experiences many lake storms, occasionally violent, with heavy rain and thunder, mostly short-lived.

Banks
Banks are more and more prolific, the best known being

• Citibank Uganda

• Stanbic Bank

• Barclays Bank

• Standard Chartered Bank

• Bank of Baroda

• Crane Bank

• Bank of Africa

• DFCU

• Orient Bank

Clubs

Recriational and Sporting Clubs are very popular in Uganda and form the principal avenues of the social life of the expatriate. The year-long sunshine encourages participationary sports that are available at the Kaazi Sailing Club, the Entebbe Sailing Club, The Uganda Golf Club, American Recreation Area (tennis), the Kololo Club for squash, the Kyadondo Rugby Club, Kabira Club as well as a Hash House Harrier club (drinking joggers). In addition; soccer, cricket and field hockey clubs are present as well as the Mountain Club of Uganda. Social Clubs include the British High Commission Club, the Kampala amateur Dramatic Society, The society of St George, the Caledonia Society, the Irish Society, the Association of French people in Uganda and a host of others.

• Hash Hound Harriers
  Running and quenching
  The Surgery , Kololo Hill

• Kampala Golf Club
  18 Hole city centre
  Kitante Road

• Kyadondo Rugby Club
  Regular games
  Jinja Road

• Lugogo Tennis Club
  And badminton
  Lugogo By-Pass

• Muyenga Club
  Swimming etc.
  Tank Hill

• Sheraton Hotel
  Swimming and gym.

• Speke Marina Riding Stables
  Riding with lessons
  Munyonyo, Lake Victoria

Domestic Staff
It is common to employ house staff, cooks, gardeners and security guards. Salaries are extremely reasonable and they add greatly to the quality of life overseas. -So think twice about taking the washer and dryer. Expatriates that leave Uganda always try to find good employment for their reliable staff after their departure and new arrivals should have no problem finding help with recommendations and good references; look on your embassy or High Commission's notice board for starters. Nannies are wonderful with children.

Electricity
Most of Uganda's grid electricity is supplied from the Owen Falls dam at Jinja, with more coming from the newly built extension. However there is still not enough supply and power brown-outs and load shedding occur on a regular basis. Supply is meant to be 220/240 volts AC 50 cycles but it can vary quite considerably. Voltage still fluctuates wildly from 60 to 600 volts so voltage stabilizers are absolutely vital for TVs, stereos, computers and fridges. Power plugs/sockets are mostly of the square three-pin British type and light bulb fittings are generally of the bayonet type. The bad news is that power cuts can be an every day event and usually last for several hours at a time so many people have their own locally available generators or locally available "inverters" (a large battery that translates 12Vs into 220V when required for limited applications).

Embassy Registration
It's always a good idea to register with your Embassy or High Commission as soon as you arrive in Uganda. Not only is it appreciated by the mission, but it is also a good way to meet other nationals at the cocktail parties that are held from time to time. Many of the diplomatic missions are fairly laid-back in Kampala and are much more helpful than in other larger countries.

Furniture and Appliances
Furniture is available in Kampala. Design and quality have greatly improved in the recent years and it is now common for our customers to leave with more furniture than they came with! Good strong hard wood pieces are still a bargain. If you enjoy watching your favourite movies, it may be worth bringing your Television & DVD player with a 220V converter. Local television stations are somewhat amateur, but DSTV and GTV Satellite TV stations are largely available. 220V appliances are available, quite expensive and with very little choice. Remember that in many cases, large refrigerators and stoves do not fit into the niches provided in some kitchens and washer/dryers are a mixed blessing.

Health

Well, there are plenty of very nasty bugs, parasites and viruses to keep you on your toes, but it's not really the end of the world unless you get malaria or a serious amoebic complaint. And there are "dawas" (medicines) that can fix them in nearly all cases. Cleaned foods and clean liquids will be the best defence against stomach "bugs". A mosquito net, long sleeves and anti-mosquito spray are the best protection against malaria and if it is not enough, anti-malaria tablets are widely available in Uganda.

Clinics

• AAR Health Services
  Hill view Appartment, Clement Hill  road
  Tel: 0414 258527

• International Medical Center
  Dr. Ian Clarke
  Namuwongo
  Tel: 0312 200400

• The Surgery
  Dr. R.J. Stockley
  Kololo
  Tel: 0414 256 003

Hotels

The Sheraton, The Serena Hotel and Emin Pasha are the best hotels in Kampala and will cost you around $300 per night for a single. All three hotels have beautiful gardens and swimming pools. You can also find charming guesthouses, like Mamba point or Le Bougainviller. We have listed a few of the hotels available in Kampala. The choice does not stop at this list; new hotels crop up on an almost daily basis!

• The Equatoria Hotel, $150 per double, smart clean,

• The Grand Imperial Hotel $150 per double, smart clean and in the city center.

• The Fairway, starting $ 80 for a single, close to the Golf course.

• The Kabira Country Club, huge pool and apartments available.

• The Speke Hotel, double $150, in the city center.

• Mamba Point, starting $115, a quiet and family feeling.

• Le Bougainviller, starting $ 110, a bit of French provence in Kampala!

As a foreigner, you may settle your bill in hard currency or by credit card.

KAMPALA

• The Equatoria Hotel, William street, Nakasero
  Tel: 0414 250 781

• Fairway Hotel, 1 Kafu Hill, Nakasero
  Tel: 0414 257 171

• Grand Imperial, Nile Avenue, Nakasero
  Tel: 0414250 681

• Hotel International 2000 Ltd, Tank Hill Road, Muyenga
  Tel: 0414 510 200

• Kabira Country Club, Old Kira Road, Bukoto
  Tel: 0312 227 222

• The Serena Hotel, Nile Avenue, Nakasera
  Tel: 0414 309 000

• Sheraton Kampala, Ternan Avenue, Nakasero
  Tel: 0414 420 000

• Speke Hotel, 7/9 Nile Avenue, Nakasero
  Tel: 0414 259 221

• Le Bougainviller, Katazamiti Road, Bugolobi
  Tel: 0414 220 966

• Mamba Point Guest House, Akii Bua Road, Nakasero
  Tel: 0312 563 000
  

ENTEBBE

• Botanical Beach Hotel
  Tel: 0414 320 800

• Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel
  Tel: 0414 351 600

• Imperial Resort Beach Hotel
  Tel: 0414 303 000
  

Housing

Adequate expatriate housing nowadays is a little more plentiful than 10 years ago. Many new rental houses have come onto the market recently and local real estate agents will be pleased to show you a good selection. There are four parameters that govern house or apartment hunting in Uganda and they are:

• Location and Commute

• Electricity and constant Water Supply

• Security

• Proximity to a shopping area

Much of the housing in Kampala is available through referrals and word of mouth. A good place to start is the various club notice boards: not doubt your company has contacts that will yield some properties to inspect.

As a rule of thumb, suitable houses range from US$ 1,500 - 4,000 per month. Remember that these prices do not generally include furniture, a working telephone, appliances, electricity costs and most-times, security guards. If the premises boast a telephone line, it is a major advantage. It is essential to have security guards as pilferage and theft is endemic. Security alarm companies enjoy great success in Kampala but they should only be an addition to your own guards in most cases. Landlords frequently demand three, six and sometimes 12 months rent in advance. It is important to try to pay as little in advance as possible which might encourage the lessor to undertake repairs should anything go wrong during the term of the lease. It may be a good idea to discuss with the landlord some kind of discount off your rent if you include some mildew-proof exterior paint in your household effects as you can be sure that any painting done prior to your occupancy will deteriorate badly within a short period.

Leading Estate Agents are:
Knight frank, 4 Kimathi Avenue Tel: 0414 341 382,
Mowin Properties Ltd, Plot 3 Parliament Avenue, Tel: 0414 235 795.

Moving to Uganda

• " The Acorns International Pre-School, 35 Nakasero Road, Tel: 0414 340 154. Places for children from 1 to 6 years.

• Ambrosoli International School, 10/12 Binayomba Street, Tel: 0414 220 416. Follows the British curriculum, for children from 2 to 11 years. Fees about $ 2,000 for pre-school to $ 3,600 for grade 5.

• L'Ecole Francaise des Grands Lacs (French School), Lugoyo By-Pass, Tel: 0414 341 660. For francophone children of 2 and above. French curriculum, no immersion classes. Fees about Eur 2,200 for pre-school to Eur 3,300 for grade 5. There are no classes for grades 6 to 10, but the students can follow the curriculum with appointed teachers.

• The Honneytree Montessori Pre-School, 950 Kisugu Road, Tel: 0414 268 068. Offers places 1-6 years old. Fees about $1,000 per child.

• Heritage International School, Kutta Road, Muyenga. Tel: 0414 266 041/2. Offers places from 3 years and above.

• Kabira International School, Old Kira Road, Bukoto, Tel: 0414 530472, 543445. Coeducational, pre-school to Grade 6 (12 years). IBO curriculum. Within 10 min of the city center sharing extensive facilities with adjacent Kabira Country Club. Fees about $ 5,000 for pre-school to $ 10,000 for Grade 10.

• International School of Uganda, Lubowa Estate, Tel: 0414 200 374. One of the oldest and biggest International schools in Uganda, outside Kampala but has its own school buses. The school has a huge campus including, swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis courts, etc… Coeducational day school to grade 12 (18 years), IBO curriculum. Fees vary from $ 5,500 for pre-school to $ 14,000 for grades 11-12.

• Rainbow International school Kampala, Kansanga, Tel: 0414 268 003. Nice campus. Follows the British National curriculum to grade 11, Fees about $ 3,000 for pre-school to $ 6,000 for Upper School (age 12/16 years).

• The Kampala Ballet and Modern Dance School
  Kyadondo Road, Nakasero, Tel: 0414 234 691

• Speke Equestrian Centre,
  Munyonyo, Tel: 0414 268 956.

• The "Kampala Kids League", soccer, basket and baseball league
  Tel: 0772 415 193
  

• Le Chateau Restaurant
  Ggaba Rd., Kabalagala
  Tel: 0414 510 404

• Khana Khazana
  Accacia Avenue
  Tel: 0414 233 049

• Le Petit Bistro
  Gaba Road
  Tel 0772-403 080

• Crocodile,
  21 Cooper Road, Kisementi
  Tel: 0414 254 593

• Fang Fang Chinese restaurant
  Communication House, Colville street
  Tel: 0414344 806

• Haandi
  Commercial plaza, Kampala road
  Tel: 0414 346 284

• Krua Thai
  Windsor crescent
  Tel: 0414 234 852

• Mama Mia Pizza
  Speke Hotel
  Tel: 0414 346 340

• Mamba Point
  22A Akii Bua Road
  Tel: 0772 243 225

• Arirang Korean Restaurant
  Kyadondo road
  Tel: 0414 346 777

• Lotus Mexicana
  Sezibwa Road

• Café Roma
  Muyenga Tank Hill road
  Tel: 0772 501 847