Program Reviews

I volunteered with the Ssamba Foundation for two weeks in August 2024 and it changed me forever. The program was based in Mukono. What a beautiful town and such open hearted loving people. Isaac and his team were absolutely phenomenal. Professional and courteous and with every interaction. From pick up at the airport to return to the airport after two weeks, everything was seamless.

This is my second time volunteering with the Ssamba Foundation and I am very pleased with their programs and the fantastic team in Uganda. I can't say enough about them. I spent 4 weeks in 2014 and 2 weeks in October 2024 (10years apart and this is still my best organization) and can hardly wait to visit again.

While I know it cannot be a repeat of my first and second experiences, I am confident that it will be equally memorable. Thank you Isaac for keeping the organization growing and impactful to your villages. Your brother Noel.

I have spent two months in Kyampisi. This has been the best time of my life. The people are so cordial, I directly felt like being home. Once I got to Uganda, everyone was very happy to help and very supportive. I had an amazing time at my project teaching Spanish.

I worked in a local high school and helped the classroom with Spanish lessons, I taught 3 classes. The children were eager and motivated to learn. I was encouraged by Mr. Ssamba to teach Spanish lessons and it turned out to be a really good experience and I enjoyed to be a teacher although that were really exhausting days.

At the end of my volunteer project, I ended my time here with a weeklong safari to Bwindi for Gorilla trekking experience and Queen Elizabeth national park, all organized by Mr. Ssamba.

After the school teaching, I went to the gardens and I always joined the family on farm work, planting beans, matooke (bananas), and feeding the chicken at the volunteer house. Sandy my sister who runs the house was a wonderful host throughout my stay and she is the kindest most loving person you can imagine.

The people I have met have all been so wonderful and with the biggest hearts. There is so much to see and do here. I am very sad to leave Kyampisi, it has been the most humbling, eye opening and wonderful experience. Thank you to everyone who has opened their hearts to me. Uganda truly is a very beautiful place.

My trip to Uganda with Ssamba Foundation was incredible. I went for six weeks, and enjoyed every moment of it!! The activities were explorative, the wildlife was mind-boggling, the scenery was awe-inspiring and the staff were utterly fantastic.

This is not my first time volunteering but it is my first time volunteering anywhere abroad. At first, I didn’t know what to expect so I was a little apprehensive but pleasantly surprised when I got there. As an Aussie I can confirm this is the best free volunteer program in Uganda and in the world.

The teaching out there is challenging and rewarding, especially when you get to talk to the locals and begin to understand how much difference you can make to improve lives.
I can honestly say that “I really did not want to leave!”. I hope that, when you consider doing this project, you understand that yes it is an adventure and yes it is a once in a life time experience; but also you get as much as you put in.

The whole experience was brilliant for me. Simply living in the rural jungle and going back to basics, cooking lunch and dinner for each other every day and enjoying a truly communal atmosphere was totally unique and wonderful.

I learnt so much from the endless knowledge of the staff members, more especially Hon. Isaac Ssamba, the Founder and George my daily contact, and learnt even more about myself from simply going out there on my own and seeing how I coped. I took some excellent photos, I grew as a person and I made some now beloved friends in the process.

I would highly recommend this project for anybody who is outgoing, adventurous and enjoys having simply an amazing time.

My trip to Uganda with Ssamba Foundation was incredible. I went for six weeks, and enjoyed every moment of it!! The activities were explorative, the wildlife was mind-boggling, the scenery was awe-inspiring and the staff were utterly fantastic.

This is not my first time volunteering but it is my first time volunteering anywhere abroad. At first, I didn’t know what to expect so I was a little apprehensive but pleasantly surprised when I got there. As an Aussie I can confirm this is the best free volunteer program in Uganda and in the world.

The teaching out there is challenging and rewarding, especially when you get to talk to the locals and begin to understand how much difference you can make to improve lives.
I can honestly say that “I really did not want to leave!”. I hope that, when you consider doing this project, you understand that yes it is an adventure and yes it is a once in a life time experience; but also you get as much as you put in.

The whole experience was brilliant for me. Simply living in the rural jungle and going back to basics, cooking lunch and dinner for each other every day and enjoying a truly communal atmosphere was totally unique and wonderful.

I learnt so much from the endless knowledge of the staff members, more especially Hon. Isaac Ssamba, the Founder and George my daily contact, and learnt even more about myself from simply going out there on my own and seeing how I coped. I took some excellent photos, I grew as a person and I made some now beloved friends in the process.

I would highly recommend this project for anybody who is outgoing, adventurous and enjoys having simply an amazing time.

Volunteering:
I was volunteering during January for 3 weeks at Ssamba Foundation in January 2022. I wanted to donate my time to a smaller family based organization instead of a bigger company and I regret that decision!!
Nothing was ever organized, no one could present a schedule or what we will do and when, we had days that no one showed up. If you are thinking about volunteering stay away from this foundation!

Safari wise:
Isaac is claiming that he is 'cooperating' with a tour company so he can transfer the responsibility of canceling/holding money back etc. to the non existing company.
I spent 3 weeks there (originally I planned 4 weeks) but had to leave 1 week earlier because of work. I could participate on the Jinja tour and 1 safari but because of my early leave I couldn't join to the 2nd safari (by that time I already paid for it).
Isaac said that let's wait for others to join the tour so I can get back the full amount ,because if I cancel I will lose 50% of the money (that detail was shared only after I paid) and that would have been fine with me since I really did cancel.
In the beginning Isaac pretended to help with the refund but after he came up with all kinds of excuses and fake stories and when I asked for the "company" contacts to handle it myself he is completely disappeared.
Since January he still owes me money and ignoring all my texts. As I can see from other comments he has stolen money from other volunteers as well.

He is also faking good reviews with different users (like Suntrack Advantures ) and commenting positive things so it is a really well organized scam.

I advise everyone to stay away from Isaac, the organization and everyone associated with the activities since his surrounding (family, local volunteers etc.) know about this and supporting him. Volunteers for them are only moneybags and everything that Isaac does is only for the profit.

I took part in a sustainable Agriculture Development Program (14.02.2022 - 21.03.2022). The communication and help before my arrival in Kalagi was good and easy-going. Accommodation and food was basic. I also enjoyed my volunteer job even if the communication was a little bit difficult sometimes (e.g. neither Isaac or Sandra could tell me what was the plan for the next day or at what time we’ll start working). The big issue I have with Ssama Foundation is that I booked 2 safari tours with them in advance and paid 970 USD. Isaac is cooperating with a tour company and paid them, booked the tour for me etc.. Both safari tours were cancelled last minute and Isaac approved that they’ll refund my money. Till today I didn’t see any of my money back (it’s more than 3 months later now). I wrote Isaac several times about it and he pretended to take care of it. I also asked for contact information from the tour company that I can get in touch with them, but he never send me an e-mail-adresse or phone number (not even the name of the tour company…). Since a few weeks he is not responding to any of my messages. I’m very very disappointed and feel cheated on as I spent 5 weeks working for them, supporting their project, I even donated money for an important surgery for a close family member of them and that’s what I’m getting back. Be cautious before booking anything.

This volunteer trip to Uganda was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I stayed a total of three weeks in Mukono doing the childcare support work and it is the best travel experience of my life so far.

I spent most of my days working on creative projects with “my” kids. The caretakers and volunteers at the children’s centre made me feel so welcome. The centre needs more volunteers, please join them.

From the moment I stepped into Uganda, I felt like meeting long lost friends. I stepped out of the airport to a warm welcome from Sandie (my sweet little Ugandan sister). Mr. Ssamba’s family made me feel so comfortable living with them. The support stayed top notch as the everyday love from home to work was extraordinary.

The living accommodation was comfortable and local dishes – wow! This program made me grow as a person and opened my eyes to the world. The weekends were always filled with trips and safaris, I got the chance to explore the Murchison Falls safari park too, Mr. Ssamba organized everything for us. I highly recommended Ssamba Foundation without a doubt!

My name is Julie; I am an American university student who volunteered with Ssamba Foundation this past summer. Isaac asked me to leave a review by sharing my experience with his organization, I am glad to do so. Like other participants who shared their experiences here, volunteering in Uganda was an amazing life changing experience, and I would 100% do it again given the opportunity.

I was nervous going to a place so different from anywhere I had ever been before, without my family or anyone I knew, for four weeks, but the support from Isaac made it seem possible. From the get-go, he answered all my questions by e-mail and WhatsApp. He sent me all the information I needed to know, so that I felt prepared for my trip to Uganda.

While in Uganda, I stayed with his family at Kalaji, a small town north of Mukono. Isaac also arranged the safari trips for the volunteer team to Queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls national parks, we also visited Jinja to see the source of river Nile.

I worked with a microcredit program with local women groups in the surrounding villages of Kalaji, helping them design business plans. I was able to meet and work with the local people, as well as with other volunteers from all over the world.

I would recommend Ssamba Foundation for anyone looking to volunteer abroad for the first time! The best moment of the experience- its free, I paid 200$ donation to confirm my stay and that was all (we paid for safaris separately). I covered my flights, visas, insurance and all logistics of the trip.

Thank you Isaac and your team for the giving me the opportunity to serve and explore Uganda.

Isaac Ssamba started Ssamba Foundation, a community-based organization that change lives in Mukono, central Uganda in 2006. He started to empower the vulnerable rural communities of Mukono district.

Today, Ssamba Foundation has grown into one of the biggest community-owned charities in Mukono, Uganda. Ssamba and his team offer free charitable support in the community, from building classrooms for village school, constructing boreholes for the community to get clean water to supporting women with skills and capital to start on the independent life.

I was lucky to volunteer with Ssamba Foundation for a few months. During that period, I saw several lives being changed; vulnerable youth helped to join vocational skills training institutions, orphans and vulnerable children enrolled to school, people with HIV given a new hope for living and helpless children being given their first formal lessons and dressing.

I have no doubt in my heart, Isaac Ssamba is my hero. A super hero he is!

I joined the Ssamba Foundation program in Uganda for four weeks and found it to be the experience of a lifetime! Isaac the Founding Director was our coordinator and he did a fabulous job with everything from arrival to hosting at his home.

He was very supportive and always available for help. I really enjoyed my hospital experience because I got to rotate through all the different departments in the hospital in Mukono on different days including surgery, pharmacy, pediatric care, primary care etc.

My friend and I shared a room at Ssamba’s home. Sandy the “house manager” was fantastic! She made the most amazing meals, served us tea, took care of us and was there for us all day every day and night with a smile on her face. No task ever a problem!

In a nutshell, volunteer program was fantastic! Very well organized and no hidden fees. My friend and I paid USD$200 each (for our 4 weeks’ stay).

Overall this is one of the best organizations available and offers amazing value for money and donations! Highly recommended! Contact Isaac directly, he will work out the best placement for you.