Fields of Life

Emmaus Guesthouse provides outstanding views of Lake Victoria and its evergreen Islands. At Emmaus, we can accommodate approximately 30 guests depending on requirements. We have seventeen bedrooms comprising of single, twin and double rooms. Request information on our special, discounted package for groups or teams.

For people who would love a homely setting, the Shalom Guesthouse is the other option. In Shalom, you are not really far away from home but can enjoy an intimate atmosphere. There are a few rooms in the main house, as well as a dining and a comfortable lounge. In addition, there are two self-catering apartments that are available on the grounds, one of which has just been newly constructed for the convenience of a larger family. There is also a spacious garden where you can either lounge in the shade of the gazebo or enjoy the sun. Emmaus, too, has a gazebo set in a beautiful, landscaped garden.

The Fields of Life Guesthouses were established to ensure the safety and welfare of the project teams while they are located in Uganda. The vision was to provide a place where the teams could be secure and maintain good health while travelling to and from the various short-term mission/project locations.

Africa is a challenging designation with which to travel, it is not a tourist resort where every convenience is catered; instead, Africa is a place of contrast where the welcome of personable, friendly people is tempered with the realities and harshness of poverty and scarcity. It is not a trip one takes lightly, and the need to guide as well as to guarantee the well-being of individuals who are undertaking work on behalf of the Fields of Life organisation was paramount. Therefore, Emmaus and Shalom exist as not only a starting point, but as a base for team leaders and their team members to use as a preparatory and security anchor. It is hoped that our staff will provide services so that each team or group will find their East African experience a positive one.

The Guesthouses prioritise accommodation for FOL team members, as the service exists for their welfare. It is not run as a profitable venture as Fields of Life is a non-profit organisation. Guests are charged for services rendered and these funds go towards overhead costs. Indeed, the guesthouses provide employment for local individuals and an opportune venue for training. Should excess funds exist after costs, overheads, and maintenance are covered; they are channelled back into one or more of the Fields of Life's field programmes.

The public, however, are welcome at the Guesthouse, but must be aware that this will depend on the availability of rooms after team members have been accommodated. Non-affiliated members of the public will not feel ill at ease within the house at any time. In fact, many times you may meet former team members who are repeat visitors to Uganda and prefer to stay and use the guesthouse as a familiar home base. The best course of action for those members of the public who wish to avail of either facility is to contact the Guesthouse Manager, either by e-mail (rachel@fieldsoflifeuganda.com), or by using the website contact form on the homepage. The Guesthouse Manager will be more than happy to answer all queries and will advise you of the availability of rooms for the timeframe you have in mind.

Both guesthouses are comprehensively insured and are located a five-minute drive away from Kampala. In addition, most rooms are self-contained with hot running water in the showers. Either guesthouse is a good, secure place to use as a base for your trip to Uganda. From the moment you land at Entebbe's modern international airport, to the forested shore of island-strewn Lake Victoria, it is clear that Uganda is no ordinary safari destination. Restaurants serving Italian, Chinese, English and Indian food, as well as shopping centres, are all within walking distance or a few minutes’ drive. Swimming pools and an aerobics centre are easily accessible for those who love to exercise. For medical emergencies, Kampala International Hospital is nearby and provide ambulance services.

Services

Guesthouse services include bed and breakfast, meals, conference facilities, and hire of facilities for team functions while in Uganda.  (Consult  our guesthouse service offering for more detailed information.)

The Emmaus and Shalom Guesthouses believe in maintaining the standards of excellence offered in customer care in line with Fields of Life core values and beliefs. It is Fields of Life policy that all guests will be booked and accommodated comfortably as availability allows. However, Fields of Life reserves the right to refuse admittance due lack of availability or conduct which is considered unacceptable. Fields of Life operate a ‘first come first served' policy, and as mentioned previously, with a special focus on providing suitable accommodation and guidance for FOL teams and groups who travel to Uganda to complete project work on the auspices of organisation.

Individuals

Reservations for individuals can be made on an ad-hoc basis, subject to availability.

Groups

It is recommended that large groups of ten (10) to forty (40), or fifty (50) to sixty (60) persons should be made at least two (2) to three (3) months in advance. Although the Guesthouse Manager will make every effort to accomodate all reservation requests, it should be pointed out that for groups/teams who wish accomodation during the summer months, that disappointed can be avoided if such requests are made in the recommended lead-time.

Room Allocation

In order to facilitate the appropriate pairing and allocation of rooms, the accommodation and health profile section of the online reservation form MUST be completed and submitted to the Guesthouse Manager. Although the number of team members can be provided for at the final booking, it is imperative that the profile information is forwarded so that suitable paring of room occupants (according to age and/or relevant restriction) can be appropriately organised and addressed. In addition, age and health considerations must be given priority and bear considerable weighing when allocating rooms (for example, ground floor accommodations for those who have difficulty with stairs, age and gender appropriate pairings, etc.). However, the Guesthouse Manager will NOT be able to accommodate and facilitate these requirements if the information is not provided at the time of booking (and at least two months prior to the arrival of the group/team).

Conference/Parties

As with large groups, at least three (3) months to six months'notice is necessary to avoid disappoint (particularly during summer months). In addition, short-term mission teams will have to advise the Guesthouse Manager when and if meeting rooms are required.

Rates

Please Note that conversion/exchange rates are calculated as of 8th June, 2009. Please consult most recent conversion/exchange rates to ensure that you have a full understanding of costs.

Booking Terms

• Rates are per person and all hotel taxes are inclusive.
  
• Rates are subject to change with/without notice.
• Check-in time is based on flight arrivals.
• A 50% deposit of the total amount of the stay will be required for advance bookings.
• Check-out time ranges between 8:30am and 10:00am.
• Cancellations of advance bookings are charged a fee of 25% of the total cost.

Billing

You will receive an invoice from the Guesthouse Manager the day before you depart. You will be given a receipt on payment. If you wish to pay your bill any earlier than this, please inform staff. Payment can be made in Ugandan Shillings, US Dollars, or English Sterling (preferable).