Summer Program in Uganda Tuition, Fees and Policies
Admission and Registration
The program is open to students from U.S. law schools who have completed at least one year of law school and are in good standing with their home institution. Students from accredited non-U.S. law schools may also apply and will be admitted if they have completed a level of study comparable to the U.S. students and are in good standing with their institutions. Ugandan, or other African, students will also be admitted to the seminar.
Matriculation in the program will not be permitted until the student provides a letter from their home law school certifying their good academic standing.
One of the important goals of the program is to have students work and study with East African law students. To enable a pervasive cross-cultural experience, as many as ten students from African law schools (most likely from Uganda or nearby East African countries) will be admitted to the seminar.
Enrollment in the Law and Development Practicum is limited to 25 U.S. law students.
Language of Instruction
English is the official language of Uganda and all activities will be conducted in English. Students also will be able to converse comfortably in English with local residents.
Instructional Excursions to Local Legal Institutions
Visits to two legal institutions will take place during the program. Kampala is a national and regional center. The major Ugandan courts are in Kampala as are the key government agencies. Possible excursions include the High Court, Parliament, the Amnesty Commission, and the Ministry of Justice.
In addition to the legally-focused excursions, at least one recreational excursion will be organized by the program. Uganda has national parks, the rare mountain gorillas, rafting, and other possibilities. Many American and European tourists go to Uganda each year.
Information About Kampala
As the capital city of Uganda, Kampala has a vibrant population of nearly 2.5 million, by far the largest city in the country. Because Kampala serves as a base for various international governmental and non-governmental organizations, it has a distinct international presence. The United States has an embassy in Kampala as do many other major countries. Kampala is considered to be amongst the safest international cities in the region. Regional chain stores feature international brands, and most necessities are readily available.
Tuition and Fees
Uganda Practicum
The tuition for the program will be $3,600 for four (4) units of credit.
A separate mandatory program fee of approximately $1,500 will cover course materials, housing, opening and closing dinners, program-sponsored excursion costs, and transportation costs in Kampala. Students will be on their own to fund airfare to Kampala and meal costs other than the organized events and dinners. A number of major airlines fly into the international airport for Kampala, which is located in Entebbe. Students will be met at the airport and transportation will be provided to Kampala.
Accompanying Person Fee (during three-week Practicum) is $1,000.
Field Placement/Externship in Uganda or Lesotho
The tuition for the four (4)-unit field placement is $3600.
Students are separately responsible for airfare, housing, and meals while in Uganda or Lesotho.
Student Housing
ILI-ACLE staff will assist students in lining up lodging and with other details of their stay in Kampala. Housing arrangements in secure two-bedroom apartments located in Kampala will be made for students for the duration of the program. Lodging will be in shared apartments, with individual bedroom, one bathroom, and small kitchenette. The apartment will be in a secure facility, with 24-hour security, near the center of Kampala. The housing costs are included in the program fee.
Classroom Facilities
The seminar will be conducted in a classroom at ILI-ACLE. Computers are also available at ILI-ACLE and students will have Wi-Fi access to work on their own computers. ILI-ACLE facilities are modern and air-conditioned.
Law School Credit
The Law and Development Program in Uganda is approved by the ABA for the Summer of 2013. The program is pending formal approval by the University.
Students enrolled in law schools other than Pacific McGeorge should check with their appropriate school official regarding procedures to follow for transfer of credit earned from participation in either classroom courses or externships/field placements toward fulfilling degree requirements. Acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the program is subject to determination by the student's home law school.
Participation in a foreign summer program may not meet requirements to accelerate graduation. Students should consult their home institutions for advice about residency requirements under relevant ABA standards if they seek to accelerate their course of study.
Legal Research and Study
Students will have access to the internet and be able to access Westlaw, LexisNexis and other databases. Indeed, they will be able to connect remotely to most of the McGeorge Law Library's (or their home library's) databases.
Students will be provided space in the ILI-ACLE facility to study during regular business hours, and have access to computers with internet connectivity. Additionally, the apartments where student will be housed have dining/kitchen tables that may be used as study desks, and the housing will have WiFi internet connectivity for a modest additional fee.
Transportation
Transportation will be arranged for students from their apartment complexes where students are housed to ILI-ACLE's office in the city center, to program-related events, tours and excursions, and to their experiential project locations. This transportation costs are included in the program fee.
Other modes of public transportation are also available to students for travel on their own time. Public transportation is available in Kampala through public buses, shared mini-buses ("taxis" or "matatus"), and private cabs ("special hire"). There are also "boda-bodas" — motorcycle taxis — but these are not recommended. Mini-buses are generally the least expensive way to travel, but can be somewhat confusing to navigate. The conductors and fellow commuters are usually helpful, however, and will point confused travelers in the right direction. General safety measures associated with traveling in any large city should be observed.
Food
Kampala's international character is evident in the variety of cuisine available. A full meal is generally available for less than $10 USD, and at smaller, local canteens, full Ugandan meals, consisting of matoke (mashed plaintains), peanut sauce, posho (pounded corn), rice, beans, meat, gravy and chappati — are often available for about $5 to $12. Upscale establishments charge higher prices, and gourmet meals generally cost between $20 and $30. Traditional Ugandan buffets are prevalent, but international cuisine is widely available, including Chinese, Indian, Italian and Ethiopian. Local markets and grocery stores offer a range of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other food items for students who wish to prepare their own meals. Because of the variety of meal options, vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions can usually find suitable options.
Banking
Uganda is largely a cash-based economy. Within the center of Kampala, exchanging U.S. dollars for Uganda Shillings is fairly easy. Foreign exchange bureaus and banks line Kampala road in the center of town. Smaller notes — $20 or $50 — are exchanged at a lower rate than $100 bills, and bills printed before the year 2006 are generally not accepted or are exchanged at a lower rate. Students are advised to keep U.S. dollars in cash handy, as traveller's cheques are not widely accepted. ATMs are readily available throughout the city, accepting most Visa debit cards. Mastercard and American Express are not as widely accepted.
Safety
Ugandans are well-known for their hospitality and warmth, and Kampala's local residents are no exception. Local residents are generally willing to provide directions, advice, or conversation. Although Kampala is one of the safest cities in the region, common sense and vigilance are always required. Students should be aware of their surroundings and belongings at all times, securing all valuables and taking care not to flaunt jewelry (which should be worn very minimally) and other valuable possessions. Large handbags should not be carried in the city center. Care should always be exercised when travelling at night and when interacting with strangers.
Visa Requirements
Students will need to acquire their own visa and the cost is not included in the program fee. As of October 2012, the fee for a three-month tourist visa could obtained upon arrival at Entebbe Airport for $50.00 (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1051.html).
See, Entry/Exit Requirements for U.S. Citizens.
Travel Advisory
For information about travel conditions, advisories, and warning about travel in Uganda issued by the U.S. State Department, consult the following webpage, and monitor it regularly for updates. See, the Travel section at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm.
Health Advisory
No vaccinations are required, but the U.S. State Department suggests that persons traveling abroad consult with healthcare professional to determine which are appropriate in each individual's case.
Students traveling to Uganda are advised to obtain anti-malarial medication and a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days prior to arriving in the region. It is recommended that students are up-to-date on routine vaccinations, such polio, hepatitis A and B, tetanus, etc. Anti-diarrheal medication, insect repellant, sunscreen, and alcohol-based hand gel are useful when traveling in the region.
For more information about required and recommended health precautions, the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of State have Uganda-specific information.
While many medications, including anti-malarial drugs, are easily available in Kampala, students are advised to fill any regular or critical prescriptions before arriving in Uganda to ensure availability. In particular, contact lens solution and birth control medications can be expensive and difficult to obtain. Some expatriates find that the dust and pollution in Kampala can irritate contact lenses and spur allergic reactions. Students should not drink tap water and are advised to only drink bottled water.
Insurance
Students are advised to secure travel insurance before departing the United States, as their insurance may not offer coverage overseas. The U.S. State Department has more information on insurance overseas.
Financial Aid
Students should work with the Financial Aid office of their home law school to determine eligibility for financial aid. Pacific McGeorge students should discuss availability of Financial Aid with the school's Financial Aid Office.
If you expect to have funds from your financial aid office deposited to your home bank account after you arrive in Uganda, be sure to bring enough cash to cover your expenses until the financial aid funds become available. The Summer Program in Uganda sponsors cannot cash personal checks in Uganda.
Grading and Performance Assessment
Assessment will be based on a composite of either an exam or another evaluative tool (e.g., a written paper and presentation), work-product generated for the practicum or field placement, and the written evaluation provided by the supervising attorneys. The final exam, if any, will be given on the last of class instruction, June 8, 2013.
Grading will comport with Pacific McGeorge's grading practices. Students attending from other law schools should seek guidance from their home institution as to whether course unit will credited and how grades will be reported on their official transcripts.
Disclosures — Cancellation
The Program must enroll at least 20 students to operate the three-week Law & Development Practicum. The program as outlined above may not go forward without the requisite number of students. To determine the viability of the Program in a timely fashion, we will require an application and deposit from students by March 15. Once we have received the applications and deposit, Pacific McGeorge will discuss the budgetary implication with ILI-ACLE, and make a final decision as to whether to proceed with the Law & Development Practicum on or before April 1, 2013. If the Program is canceled, all deposits paid by students will be refunded. Additionally, we will undertake to assist students to enroll in other ABA approved summer programs, if they wish.
If a student withdraws prior to the commencement of the program, the student will receive a refund of all monies advanced except for the initial deposit. If the program is cancelled, students will receive a full refund of all monies advanced, including the initial deposit.
If a student withdraws during the course of the program, or if the program is terminated, the student will be refunded fees paid except for administrative fees (course materials, housing costs, etc.) committed (such as housing deposit paid to the host) prior to the notice of termination or withdrawal.
All refunds will be made within twenty (20) days after the cancellation or withdrawal.
International Law Institute-African Centre for Legal Excellence Staff
The host partner organization, the ILI-ACLE is a global affiliate of the International Law Institute in Washington, DC, which has been working towards rule of law reform across the developing world since 1955. Building upon decades of success of the ILI, ILI-ACLE has established itself as a permanent African institution based in Kampala, Uganda over the last 15 years and one of the most respected providers of professional level training and technical assistance broadly related to law, governance finance and project management in sub-Saharan Africa. The core strengths of the Institute include judicial restructuring and reform, alternative dispute resolution, good governance and anti-corruption, public procurement reform, commercial law reform, legislative drafting, human rights, international criminal law and access to justice.
Questions?
Contact Pauline Rodriguez, Summer Abroad Programs, Graduate & International Programs
Pacific McGeorge School of Law
3200 Fifth Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95817
Email | 916.739.7021
