Country Welcome for Uganda

Welcome to Uganda, or as it is affectionately known, the “Pearl of Africa.”

Welcome to Peace Corps/Uganda!

Uganda is breathtaking … the rolling hills and mountains, the abundant waterfalls, the mountain gorillas, the majestic Lake Victoria, the gushing river Nile, and most of all the warmth and boundless hospitality of the people.

Since 1964, the Peace Corps has fostered a deep friendship between the people of Uganda and the United States. Nearly 2,000 Volunteers have served here since the program's inception. Volunteers work in three sectors: Education, Health, and Economic Development. They partner with local communities, schools, and organizations to identify and address development challenges.

To hear directly from Volunteers, I invite you to read their stories about how they build libraries with recycled bottles, prevent malaria, empower girls, teach nursing students, foster youth entrepreneurship, plant trees to protect the environment, and practice the joy of cooking with neighboring children. You can also read reflections from country directors 60 years apart. These stories capture the depth and breadth of Volunteer, staff, and community experiences and embody our core mission peace and friendship.

Ask any Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, who will describe it as a transformative experience. It will challenge you personally, professionally, and culturally. It will force you to reflect and challenge your thinking and worldview. It will be hard and rewarding. Every journey is personal and unique, but what is true for everyone is you will never be the same again.

As a three-time Peace Corps Volunteer myself (Namibia, 1996-1998; Guinea, 2000; Eastern Caribbean, 2006), I could not be more thrilled to support you on your journey of transformation. Come and join us in the Pearl of Africa!

Lily Asrat, DrPH