Meetings

Part of the work I am doing in Uganda requires me to meet with people from different organisations. Arranging and attending these meetings has its own unique set of challenges so I'm sharing my experiences in this handy 8-point guide in case you ever find yourself in a similar position.

1) Expect it to take several days to actually make contact with the person you want to meet:

a. Your initial e-mail will go unanswered

b. The telephone number you have been given will be incorrect and will only enable you to talk to a random Ugandan man. He will now think that you are his friend and will send you a text message asking you to call him back...

c. When you eventually get the right number you will need to call multiple times before it is answered

d. You will get cut off several times mid-conversation before you find the exact spot in the office car park where you have to stand in order to get a consistent mobile signal

e. After explaining why you are calling you will be told that you need to speak to someone else (now repeat steps b. - d).

2) Ensure you have nothing else planned for that day. The idea of arranging a meeting several days in advance is largely an alien concept to a Ugandan and once you are sure you are speaking to the right person they will inevitably suggest that you meet the same day.

3) Establish that they are currently at their office in Kampala. If they say they are out of town but will be back later do not agree to meet them that day. They genuinely have every intention of getting back to meet you but inevitably they will not make it.

4) Allow plenty of time to get to the meeting. The traffic will be terrible and despite being told that 'you cannot miss' their office you will get lost.

5) Even if you are late you will still have to wait for the person you have come to see but this will give you the opportunity to chat to the other people in the reception area

6) You may think you are just meeting with one person but there could be two or three other people present. Don't be surprised if during the meeting another few people wander in and sit down. You will never know who these people are and they will not say anything until you get up to leave when they will shake you warmly by the hand and thank you for coming

7) This is your best opportunity to communicate so make the most of it. Make sure you get all the information you need before the meeting ends as making contact after the meeting will also be a challenge.

8) If the meeting isn't as successful or fruitful as you had hoped you can still feel a huge sense of achievement that it took place at all...