Uganda: The Pearl of Great Price
Faith in Action
Entebbe, Jinja & Kiboga, Uganda
Community Health Education & Safari Discovery
1 Week of Service • Cultural Immersion • Servant Leadership
Did You Know?
Winston Churchill famously called Uganda “the Pearl of Africa” after visiting in 1907, captivated by its lush landscapes, incredible biodiversity, and the source of the Nile River, found right in Jinja. Centuries earlier, Jesus told a parable of a merchant who found one pearl of such great value that he sold everything he owned to buy it (Matthew 13:45–46) — a fitting picture for a country whose name has long been tied to hidden, priceless worth, and to communities whose needs are often overlooked by the wider world.
The Pearl of Great Price
A merchant in Jesus's parable didn't stumble upon his pearl in an obvious place — he had to be searching. The rural communities your team will serve in Jinja and Kiboga are not the Uganda most tourists see, but they are exactly the kind of overlooked, priceless place worth giving everything to reach. Your team will partner with local health educators to bring hygiene, nutrition, and disease-prevention education to villages with limited access to this kind of information — steady, unglamorous work that treats each family like the treasure they are. Students who serve in Uganda come home changed — not because they solved every need, but because they discovered what it means to sell everything for a pearl the rest of the world walked past.
The Worldwide Faith in Action Difference
Cross-Cultural Ministry • Daily Devotions • Local Community Partnership • Health Education Workshops • East African Culture & Wildlife • 1 Week of Hands-On Service
The Worldwide Navigators Difference
Sojourn – Gain a better understanding of the community you’re visiting. Learn about different religions or spiritual practices. How do these impact the communities? How does religion or spirituality influence local traditions?
1 of 1
Savor – Will you choose sweet or savory? Take the time to visit local markets and discover unique local ingredients. Learn how to prepare traditional meals & local favorites.
1 of 1
Tip of the Tongue – Each morning, take the time to learn a few basic greetings and phrases in the local language. Learn how to write greetings & your name in the local script.
1 of 1
A Wrinkle in Time – History influences our present. Discover the history of the country you visit. Hear the stories of your guides & their family history. Where do they come from?
1 of 1
Journal Journeys – Take some time to reflect on the day’s events and document your journey. Spend a moment journaling about the day had & day ahead. These are memories for a lifetime!
1 of 1
Culture – From local dances, festivals, or simple gestures to communicate – all of these make up a country’s culture. Learn and practice cultural norms & how to show respect in the culture you visit.
1 of 1Itinerary
Welcome to Uganda! After arriving into Entebbe, transfer to Jinja and check into your accommodations. Meet the rest of the team over a welcome dinner. Opening devotional and orientation: what does it mean to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in a new culture?
After breakfast, attend team orientation to prepare for the week ahead — roles, workshop protocols, and an introduction to the communities we’ll serve in Jinja. Afterward, you’re free to explore the city, take a craft class with local artists, or visit the gardens at the Source of the Nile. Evening devotional on cultivating a servant’s heart.
Our week of service begins! Each day, your team will lead community health education sessions covering hygiene, nutrition, and prevention of the illnesses most common in the region. You’ll also take part in public health education addressing sustainability and preventative care. Evening devotionals throughout the week reflect on faithfulness in unseen work.
After four days of service, spend a day on safari! Look for Africa’s classic “big five” — the African lion, Cape buffalo, African leopard, African elephant, and rhinoceros — before traveling back to Entebbe for an overnight stay.
Travel to Kiboga and meet the local hospital staff leading community health initiatives in this rural region. Facility tour and orientation on the week ahead, plus a team dinner to prepare for the days of service to come.
Continue community health education alongside local health workers, focused on sanitation, handwashing, and disease prevention in a community facing limited access to care. Evening devotionals on being Christ’s hands in tangible, practical ways.
Final group devotional and debrief: what did God teach us this week? Enjoy one last Ugandan breakfast before transferring to Entebbe Airport for your international flight home.
Extend Your Trip
- Add a Day: Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
A short boat ride from Entebbe on Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island is a sanctuary for orphaned and rescued chimpanzees. Observe these remarkable primates in a protected forest habitat and learn about the conservation efforts working to protect Uganda’s wild chimpanzee populations.
Choose Your Impact
Every Faith in Action trip pairs a full week of hands-on service with a tour component that immerses students in local history, culture, and faith. This Uganda itinerary can be shortened, extended, or modified to fit your school’s calendar and budget.
- Value — 9–10 Day Group Trips
Airfare • Ground Transportation • 2.5–3 Star Accommodations • Daily Devotions & Debriefs • 3 Meals Per Day • Health Education Materials • Daytime Tour Director • 7 Days of Service (Community Health Education)
- Classic — 11–12 Day Group Trips
Airfare • Ground Transportation • 2.5–3 Star Accommodations • Daily Devotions & Debriefs • 3 Meals Per Day • Health Education Materials • Daytime Guided Tour Director • 7 Days of Service (Community Health Education) + Safari Excursion
- Epic — 12+ Day Group Trips
Airfare • Ground Transportation • 3.5–4 Star Accommodations • Daily Devotions & Debriefs • 3 Meals Per Day • Health Education Materials • 24/7 Guided Tour Director • 7 Days of Service (Community Health Education) + Extended Safari & Cultural Immersion • Final Night Celebration Dinner & Commissioning Service
Interested in adding or modifying activities? All Faith in Action itineraries can be customized — extend the service week, add a second community partner, or swap in additional cultural excursions.
Value
3-6 Day
Group Trips
- Airfare
- Transportation
- 2.5 - 3-Star Accommodations
- Daily Activities & Excursions
- 2 Meals Per Day
- Tours & Entrance Fees
- Daytime & Self-Guided Tour Director
- 1 Impact Project
Classic
7-12 Day
Group Trips
- Airfare
- Transportation
- 2.5 - 3-Star Accommodations
- Daily Activities & Excursions
- 2 Meals Per Day
- Tours & Entrance Fees
- Daytime Guided Tour Director
- Up to 2 Impact Projects
Epic
7-14 Day
Group Trips
- Airfare
- Transportation
- 3.5 - 4-Star Accommodations
- Daily Activities & Excursions
- 2 Meals Per Day
- Tours & Entrance Fees
- 24/7 Guided Tour Director
- Up to 3 Impact Projects
- Final Night Celebration Dinner
Interested in adding or modifying activities? No problem! All Worldwide Navigator itineraries can be customized to your liking!
In collaboration with our partners