Welcome to Uganda! The 2008 HIV/AIDS Implementers’
Meeting is headquartered at the Imperial Royale
Hotel, with additional sessions being held at the Serena
Conference Center. Please refer to the program
for a full listing and location of sessions.
Airline
Please remember that you must reconfirm your departing
flight three days in advance or your reservation
may be cancelled. Phone numbers for specific
airlines are on the Help Line Card included with your
registration materials. If you are unable to contact the
airline yourself, please visit the reconfirmation desk in
the Registration Area at the Imperial Royale.
Badges
Conference badges must be worn at all times for access
to meeting rooms and sessions. If you misplace
your badge, you will be required to show photo identification
at the registration desk to obtain a new one.
Banking Facilities and Security
In Kampala, most of the banks and many foreign exchange
bureaus are located on Kampala Road. The
foreign exchange bureaus generally stay open later
than the banks and offer competitive rates with no
commission. There is a Forex bureau in the Imperial
Royale. Rates at the main bureaus are usually listed in
the daily newspaper. The only banks in Uganda with
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) that accept international
credit cards are Standard Chartered Bank,
Crane Bank, Orient Bank and Barclays Bank. ATMs are
not always secure or reliable, so it is best to use them
during business hours in case problems occur.
Financial fraud and related financial crimes are prevalent
in Uganda. Travelers that use their credit cards
should advise their banking institution of their travel
and place limits on the card’s usage. There have also
been reports of checking information and routing
numbers being stolen to commit future financial fraud.
Travelers should carefully review any banking transaction
to ensure its accuracy.
Travelers who bring U.S. Currency with them should
note most banks and hotels will not accept paper U.S.
Currency printed before 2002.
Suggested banks in Kampala:
Crane Bank: Has a branch in the Speke Hotel, which is
open daily until 20:30.
Barclays Bank: Offers the same rates for large and
small bills. Located across the street from the Imperial
Royale.
Standard Chartered Bank: The head office is located
opposite the Grand Imperial Hotel and has credit
card-compatible ATMs.
Cell Phones
Telephone connections are good and operated by
Uganda Telecom (UTL), MTN and Celtel Uganda Limited
(Celtel). Phone cards for all three networks are
available throughout the city. Rates are approximately
UGX (Ugandan Shilling) 1,000–2,000 per minute for
international calls and UGX 200-900 for local calls, depending
on the network.
Cell phones will be sold in the Registration Area at the
Imperial Royale Hotel.
The country code for Uganda is 256. Dial 000 to make
an international call.
Contact Information
For assistance during the conference, please contact the Conference
Secretariat at one of the numbers below. You
do not need to dial (256) from within Uganda. The
(0) does not need to be dialed if calling from outside
Uganda.
| Conference Line |
256 (0) 714 632 002 |
| Housing |
256 (0) 714 632 003 |
| Conference Shuttle |
256 (0) 714 632 004 |
Child Care
Child care services will not be provided during the
conference.
Currency
The official currency in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling
(UGX).
Dining
Dining options in Kampala are extensive with a range
of prices. Some of the least expensive places to eat in
Kampala are the takeaways that are found around
the city center. Please note that many of the finer restaurants
are closed on Sundays or Mondays. Please
contact the restaurant directly or check with your hotel
before venturing out.
Electrical Power
Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, rectangular
blade plugs are used.
Internet Café
A complimentary cyber café will be set up in Lilly A, at
the Imperial Royale, during registration hours. Wireless
Internet access is also available at most hotels. Rates
may vary, so be sure to check with the hotel for specific
rates.
Language
After becoming an independent nation in 1962, the
official language of Uganda became English. All conference
sessions will be presented in English, however
limited translation will be available in the Prim Rose
ballroom.
Local Time and Operating Hours
Uganda is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean
Time (GMT) and seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern
Daylight Time (EDT). As a general rule, shops and offices
are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to
16:30 or 17:30.
Lost and Found
Please turn in any found items to the conference Registration
Desk at the Imperial Royale. If you misplace
an item, please be sure to check during registration
hours to see if it has been found.
Luggage Storage
For attendees departing on June 7, luggage storage
will be available at the Registration Area until 14:00.
Meals
Daily tea breaks will be provided during the conference;
however, please note that breakfast and lunch
will be at your own expense and are not being provided
by the conference organizers. Most conference
hotels include breakfast in the conference rate
(please check with your individual hotel). Arrangements
have been made with the Imperial Royale to
provide lunches for purchase during the conference.
Lunch tickets will be sold in the Lobby of the Imperial
Royale throughout the conference for lunch on June
4, 5 and 6. Attendees will be able to choose between
a buffet lunch and a salad/sandwich option. The buffet
luncheons are approximately $22.00 and sandwich/salad selections are approximately $16.00. No
payment will be accepted in the restaurants during
the conference.
Medical Care and First Aid
It is important to stay well hydrated while traveling
in Uganda. It is not recommended to drink tap water.
If you need medical assistance while in Uganda,
you will be expected to pay in full at the time of your
treatment. Kampala offers multiple medical facilities,
two of which are listed below. Please note that most
patients requiring emergency surgical attention are
transported to Nairobi or Pretoria.
Case Clinic: Plot 9 Bombo Road • Phone: +256 0 412
50362.
Surgery: 2 Acacia Drive • Phone: +256 0 75 756003
Message Board
A message board is located at the Imperial Royale
near Registration for attendees to leave messages for
other registered delegates. Conference updates will
also be posted here.
Registration Hours
| Saturday, 31 May |
14:00 – 19:00 |
| Sunday, 1 June |
7:00 – 19:00 |
| Monday, 2 June |
7:00 – 19:00 |
| Tuesday, 3 June |
7:00 – 20:30 |
| Wednesday, 4 June |
7:00 – 20:30 |
| Thursday, 5 June |
7:00 – 20:30 |
| Friday, 6 June |
7:00 – 20:30 |
| Saturday, 7 June |
7:00 – 14:00 |
|
Tote bags will not be provided at this year's Conference.
Please feel free to bring one to lighten your load. |
Respite Area for People Living
with HIV/AIDS
A respite area for People Living with HIV/AIDS will be
available on Level 3/Ground Level at the Imperial Royale,
in front of the hotel elevators.
Safety and Security
Kampala is rated as a critical crime threat area. Most
instances of crime tend to be opportunistic in nature.
Travelers should take all prudent measures in order not
to become a victim of criminal activity. As in most urban
areas, pick-pocketing in crowded public places
is common, as is petty theft from cars and hotel rooms.
Attendees are advised to remain alert, exercise caution,
and follow appropriate personal safety measures.
Although many parts of Kampala are safe at
night, walking alone after dark is not recommended.
Be aware of your environment and belongings at all
times.
Shuttle Service
Complimentary shuttle service is available to and from
the hotels and the conference site in the mornings and
evenings throughout the conference. Please consult
the shuttle schedule provided to you at Registration
for detailed routes and times.
Smoking Policy
In accordance with the Uganda Government’s Regulations
on Smoking in Premises open to the Public,
smoking is not permitted in any public area.
Speaker Ready Rooms & Registration
Speaker registration will be in Lilly B at the Imperial Royale
Hotel.
A speaker ready room is available at both the Imperial
Royale (Lilly B) and the Serena Conference Center
(Foyer Bar). Speakers may visit these rooms anytime
during conference registration hours to upload their
presentations. We ask that speakers please upload
their presentations no less than two hours prior to their
scheduled session.
Transportation in Kampala
Kampala is known for its frequent traffic jams. Many of
the hotels are within walking distance of the conference
location and shuttle service is offered for those
hotels farther away. Reputable taxis are marked with
black-and-white checks, but it is recommended to
agree on a fare before beginning the trip. There are
no metered taxis available. A standard short distance
fare ranges from UGX 3,000–5,000. Tipping is not expected.
Webcasting
An archived webcast of sessions held in the Prim Rose
Ballroom will be provided by kaisernetwork.org, a free
service of the Kaiser Family Foundation. The webcast
and related online resources will be available following
the meeting via a link at www.hivimplementers.com.