By Kefa Senoga
The Uganda Studies Program (USP) recently hosted a supervisors’ training at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) main campus in Mukono. The 2025 Spring Semester Internship Supervisor’s Training brought together internship supervisors for Social Work, Global Health, and Interdisciplinary Studies to discuss best practices, ethical considerations and emerging trends in internship supervision.

USP is a study-abroad program for students from North America for semester-long academic and internship experiences in Uganda. Through classes, internships and living with Ugandan families or peers, the program provides opportunities for students to authentically engage people, culture, and contemporary realities in Uganda in ways that challenge them to be active participants in Christ’s claim on all aspects of life.

According to the USP director, Emily Entsminger, supervisor training helps ensure the internships are both mutually beneficial and ethically sound. The gatherings provide a platform for supervisors to exchange insights, share challenges and enhance cross-cultural engagement strategies. 

Internship supervisors are Ugandan professionals from national and grassroots organizations who oversee and mentor USP students during their placements. They ensure students gain practical experience while upholding ethical standards in their respective field.

Emily noted that supervisors are identified through USP’s network of partner organizations and institutions that provide internship placements. They are selected based on their expertise, experience in mentoring students, and alignment with USP and UCU learning objectives.

“Since USP began, we have worked with numerous partner organizations,” Emily explained. “What started as volunteer and community service hours evolved into full-time internships. To support these placements, we conduct supervisor training to provide updates on USP, offer professional development and foster collaboration among supervisors.”

She noted that the training sessions help to align the values of USP, UCU and the supervisors.

 “This past training (January 2025), focused on professional development, particularly on supervising students from the Global North in a Ugandan context. We invited other Ugandan professionals to share their experiences,” Emily said.

USP boasts of over 970 alumni (120 male and the rest female), who have since become global alumni ambassadors of UCU and sponsors in partnership with UCU. For over two decades of USP existence, the program has had over 93 American and Ugandan staff members, including coordinators, program assistants and homestay coordinators.

One of the supervisors, Robert Ssentongo, who runs Natural Hill Herbal Services in Namugongo, near Kampala, shared his journey with USP. Initially a host parent, Ssentongo later became a supervisor after a former intern shared his story about how he produces herbal medicine.

“They visited my shop and were impressed by what they saw,” he said. “Their lecturer believed my business would benefit Global Health students, so USP started sending me student interns.”

Ssentongo explained that interns actively participate in harvesting and preparing herbal medicines, learning to source ingredients, such as cloves, from the markets.

“I take students to markets to buy ingredients and guide them through the process of making herbal medicine,” he said. “People are often surprised when they visit our shop and see the students referring to me as the expert. Many Africans tend to assume that, because the students are white, they must be the experts, and not me.”

The internship experience always leaves an impact on both the students and Ssentongo. 

“Many times, after returning to their countries, they call me to share how they’ve applied what they learned and found it effective,” he said.

Mary Kate Leloux, a former USP student, shared how her internship experience in Uganda reshaped her career and faith. Motivated by a desire to explore global health and communal culture, she joined USP and was an intern with Byona Biyinzika Ministries (BBM) in early 2020.

“My experience at BBM exposed me to the social and economic factors influencing health. I became more aware of how systemic changes can lead to positive health outcomes,” she said. “This led me to pursue a Master’s in Public Health at the University of Minnesota.”

Now serving as a USP Coordinator, Leloux believes in the program’s potential for growth and learning.

 “USP offers North American students unique opportunities to engage in a Ugandan context,” she said. “My own experience informs how I now teach global health students and navigate life in Uganda.”

She recalled a challenge she faced adjusting to Uganda’s flexible concept of time. “In my upbringing, time ruled my life. During my internship, I had to learn to prioritize relationships over strict time management.”

Leloux credited her supervisor for guiding her through cultural differences.

 “My supervisor prepared me well for village visits, asked insightful questions, and helped me navigate cross-cultural interactions,” she said. “This experience deeply influenced how I now engage with Uganda.”

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