Venue

The IST-Africa 2009 Conference and Exhibition will take place in the Speke/ Munyonyo Resort & Conference Centre, Kampala. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, Speke Resort & Conference Centre is 12 kms from Kampala City Centre.

Accommodation rates for delegates have been negotiated at Speke/ Munyonyo Resort & Conference Centre and in some neighbouring hotels in the Gaba area. Accommodation can be booked online as part of conference registration.

All conference delegates need to be registered and confirmed prior to the Conference.

It is necessary for all confirmed delegates to complete onsite registration to receive your name badge and conference pack. It is necessary for delegates to wear their IST-Africa 2009 name badge at all times during the conference as identification to gain access to the Conference Sessions, Exhibition, Lunch and Networking Reception.

Onsite Registration will commence from 15:00 - 18:00 on Tuesday 05 May in the Speke Resort & Conference Centre. Onsite registration will remain open during normal conference hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Flights to Kampala

KLM offers a direct flight to Entebbe International Airport via Amsterdam.

Other carriers offering flights to Entebbe International Airport include: Air Burundi, Air France, British Airways, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa, SN Brussels and South African Airways.

It is important to check if flights are direct or transit via Nairobi when checking visa requirements.

Transportation from Airport

Entebbe International Airport is located 40 kms north of Kampala. The main form of transportation from the airport is by taxi or pre-arranged shuttle to the hotel. Airport taxis to Kampala, identified by their horizontal yellow stripes, cost in the region of US$35. It is a good idea to agree the price prior to leaving the airport.

If you arrange a shuttle with your hotel, it is necessary to agree the price in advance as this may be more expensive than taking a taxi from the airport, particularly if you travel with other delegates.

Security, Health and Safety

Please wear your name badge for all IST-Africa 2009 activities, as it is your identification and allows you access to the facilities on offer. While the conference centre will not open to the general public, it is still necessary to take care of bags, personal computers and other personal belongings.

While security staff will be present at the conference venue, the organisers cannot accept any responsibility for losses incurred or for personal health and safety.

Delegates should ensure that they have personal health insurance and take due care when exploring the city of Kampala. Any special needs or requirements should be notified to the Conference Secretariat as far in advance of the event as possible.

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda and is situated 40 kms north of Uganda's International Airport at Entebbe on Lake Victoria. Depending on traffic, it can take 1 - 1.5 hours from Entebbe airport to the City Centre and about 1 hour to Speke Resort & Conference Centre.

Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, Speke Resort & Conference Centre is 12 kms from Kampala City Centre.

Kampala was built on seven original hills. It is a very busy city with traffic congestion in some areas. The city centre is located on Nakasero Hill. This area houses Embassies, government offices, hotels and markets. People are generally friendly and helpful in Kampala.

While in Kampala, delegates and accompanying persons should visit the Uganda Museum, Anglican Namirembe Cathedral on Namirembe Hill and Kasubi Tombs (the traditional royal tombs of the Buganda Kings) situated 5kms from the city centre.

Other places in interest around Kampala include: Jinja (Source of Nile), Owen Falls, Sezibwa Falls, the Bujagali Falls and Ngamba Island Chimp sanctuary (near Entebbe).

Kampala has seven national parks: Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Semliki, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (mountain gorillas), Mount Elgon national Park and Lake Mburo National Park.

Climate

Even though Kampala is just 80kms north of the equator, it has a relatively comfortable climate due to its elevation of 3900 feet. Speke Resort & Conference Centre (conference venue) is located on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Average temperatures in Kampala in May are warm, ranging from 20 - 25 degrees Celsius. May is towards the end of the rainy season so it is good idea to bring an umbrella.

Currency

The currency in Kampala is Ugandan Shilling (UGX). The exchange rate is approximately 1 EUR = 2,500 UGX.

US Dollars are also accepted in Kampala.

Hotels and larger restaurants will take payment by credit card but smaller items need to be paid for in cash. It is necessary to check if there is an additional charge to pay by credit card. For example, Speke Resort & Conference Centre does include an additional charge for credit card payments.

All crafts vendors and smaller shops will expect to be paid in cash.

It is a good idea to have some local currency in small denomination notes if you wish to buy crafts and pay for taxis.

It is possible to change currency to Ugandan Shilling in Entebbe airport and in Kampala. Banks change euro, GBP and US $. The exchange rate for cash transactions varies depending on the denominations changed. For example US$50 and 100 notes receive a higher exchange rate than the smaller US$10 and 20 notes.

There is an ATM machine for Crane Bank available at Speke Resort & Conference Centre, Munyonyo.