Skip to content
Home » Delegate Information

Delegate Information

Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2013
Developmental local government: putting local government at the heart of development
General information for delegates
Conference dates
Delegate registration: 10.00-3.00 Tuesday 14 May 2013
Opening ceremony: 17.00 Tuesday 14 May 2013
Conference sessions: Wednesday 15 – Friday 17 May 2013
CLGF General Meeting: Friday 17 May 2013

Delegates should arrive in Uganda by Tuesday 14 May and register between 10.00 and 3.00 at Munyonyo Commonwealth Conference Centre, Kampala, Uganda where you will be given your delegate pack. There will be a late registration at the conference centre from 08.00-09.00 on Wednesday 15 May

Conference venue
The 2013 Commonwealth Local Government Conference will take place at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Conference Centre in Kampala, Uganda.

Click here to download a copy of the conference flyer.

1. Conference arrangements
Registering for the conference
Please ensure that you book in advance and register each person attending as part of your delegation so that we can ensure that a delegate pass is ready for each person when they arrive at the conference. See the registration section here. The delegate accreditation pass will be required for security purposes and you may not be allowed to attend without it. You will be responsible for looking after your pass and must wear it at all times in the conference centre. Conference fees should be paid in advance (see payment details on the invoice).

Your registration will only be confirmed when you have paid the delegate fee.

Meals and refreshments
Teas and coffees will be provided throughout the conference. Lunch will be provided on the three conference days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Breakfast and other meals are not included in the conference fee – apart from the Carnival evening (dinner) on Wednesday 15 May – this is included in your conference fee.

Conference facilities and helpdesk
There will be a helpdesk at the Conference Centre throughout the conference and business facilities will be available at the centre. Details will be in your conference pack. The majority of the conference hotels have business services facilities on-site. There are also some internet cafes in the city.

Spouses and accompanying persons
Accompanying persons, including spouses, must register if they wish to attend the social events. An accompanying person who would like to attend the dinner or other social events can register as an accompanying person for a payment of £125 in advance. Any accompanying persons who wish to attend the conference sessions must be registered as full delegates.

Tours
Some of the major tourist attractions in Uganda include: Source of the Nile, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, The Bahai Temple, Uganda National Museum, Uganda Wildlife Educational Centre (UWEC) and Reptile Village in Entebbe. Sightseeing tours for delegates and accompanying persons can be booked through Captain Safaris. Email: captainsafaris@gmail.com Tel: +256 715 938788. There is a charge for these tours.

2. Travelling to Kampala
Travel to Kampala, Uganda
Delegates are responsible for their own travel to Kampala, including paying for flights and other travel. Entebbe International airport is approx. 30 minutes from the centre of Kampala. There are direct flights from Europe and regional flights from Kenya and Tanzania. You can also catch a long-distance bus from Kenya and Rwanda. There will be a Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2013 Helpdesk at the airport to help direct you to a hotel shuttle service. Taxi services are also available from the airport

Local taxi firm
Whilst in Kampala – the preferred taxi firm is KKG Transporters Email: kkgtransporters@yahoo.com Tel: 0776 941 497, 0712 941 497.

Passports and visas
Please ensure that your passport and visa, if required, is in order.

Visa waiver for CLGC 2013

The Government of Uganda has agreed to waive the visa fee for CLGC 2013 delegates. If you have registered and paid to attend the conference before 30 April 2013, your name will be included in the visa waiver list. There will be a conference helpdesk at Entebbe airport that will help you with this process. Please make sure that you have got the payment confirmation letter on arrival at the airport. For delegates who pay the conference fee after 30 April will have to take responsibilty for obtaining and paying for their own entry visa. Your registration acceptance letter, which you receive once you have registered, should be sufficient to obtain any necessary visas. Single/multiple entry visas can be obtained in advance or on arrival at the airport. The average cost of a single entry visa is $50. Further details can be found at http://www.clgc2013.org/visas/

3. Accommodation
Kampala has a selection of hotels. We have designated 4 hotels as the main conference hotels which are a range of prices.

CLGF has negotiated preferential rates at the following hotels:
(inclusive of breakfast, tax and transport if necessary)

Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort – $100 per night
Sir Jose Hotel – $60 per night
Victoria Travel Hotel – $50 per night
Green Valley Hotel – $45 per night
Further information on accomodation be found at http://www.clgc2013.org/accommodation/

4. General information on Kampala, Uganda
Climate and clothing
The weather in Kampala is warm most of year, except the two rainy seasons which are from March to May and from the end of September to January. It is advisable to bring an umbrella, some rainwear – just in case. Smart, semi-formal lightweight cotton or linen clothes are recommended during the conference and more formal clothing/ traditional dress is suitable for social events.

Currency
Currency: The currency of Uganda is Uganda Shilling (USh) although the US Dollar is also widely accepted. (USh 1=100 cents)

Notes: denominations of USh 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000
Coins: 50, 100, 200 and 500 and 1000 shillings
For most purposes its best to have a supply of 1000, 5000 and a few 10,000 notes available. Coins aren’t much use in hotels and shops, but you may be able to use them in markets and stalls. The 10,000 and 1,000 Shilling notes look remarkably similar in half light and when they are grubby, so it’s advisable to check your change carefully. Hotels and major shops will often price items in US dollars as well as Shillings, and either currency will be accepted. Dollars cash can be exchanged for Shillings in areas where travelers’ cheques are not accepted, so it can be useful to carry a few for emergencies.

Goods and services taxes
A 18% tax is added to almost all bills so often you will be paying more than the price you see.

Health and insurance
We advise you to take out medical insurance and insurance for your travel: the conference organisers (CLGF) do not take responsibility for health or travel insurance.

Language
Luganda is widely spoken in Uganda although English is the official national language.

Power connections
You will need a 3 square pin plug to connect your laptop or other electronic device to the local power supply.

Time
The time zone in Kampala is GMT + 03:00 hour

Tipping
A service charge of around 5 per cent is normally added to bills. Check when making any bookings as to what charges apply.

5. Post-conference study visits
Study visits in and around Kampala will be organised on 18 May. Please contact us on clgc2013@clgf.org.uk if you would like further details. There will be a limited number of places available and any additional expenses occurred (e.g. travel and accommodation) must be paid for by the delegate.

6. Who to contact
General inquiries about the conference