Climate change in Uganda

The average temperature in Uganda has increased by 1.3°C since the 1960s and minimum temperatures have increased by 0.5–1.2°C for this period with maximum temperatures increasingly by 0.6–0.9°C. Increased average temperatures have been observed at 0.28°C per decade since 1960 and the daily temperature observations since 1960 show significantly increasing trends in the frequency of the number of hot days, and much larger increased trends in the frequency of hot nights.[7] Climate change and changes in temperature is also affecting the Rwenzori Mountains by causing glacier melting which increases the water levels in the Nyamwamba, Mubuku, and Ruimi Rivers. This has led to frequent flooding across the Rwenzori region.[8] From 1906, ice fields shrunk from 6.5 sq/km to less than 1 sq/km by 2003 and might completely vanish in a few years. In 2012, forest fires occurred in the Rwenzori region causing the ice field/ glaciers to melt which led to the flooding of the river around the mountain.[8]

In January 2022 intense rain around Mount Muhavura damaged buildings and roads in Kisoro District.[9] The area which were most affected are Nyarusiza, Muramba and Bunagana.[10] Nine people were reported to have lost their lives and thousands of people displaced and affected by this disaster.[11][12]

On 1 Mach 2010, in Bududa district there was landslides on the slopes of mountain Elgon that killed 50 people and left thousand displaced. More Details here: 2010 Ugandan landslide.In 2018, there was another landslide in Bududa District at the slops of mount Elgon that killed 28 people and left thousands displaced.[13] In 2021, On 14 October, anothor landslide reported in the same district affecting 214 individuals. As of 30 September 2021, a total of 20,739 individuals had been internally displaced.[14] All these landslides are due to prolonged rains than normal.

Current/past Köppen climate classification map for Uganda up to 2018

Predicted Köppen climate classification map for Uganda

In Kasese District, almost every year there is flooding which causes a heavy impact on the lives and livelihood of people in that place. As a result, many schools and peoples' homes are burred and destroyed leaving many displaced [15][16]

The Ugandan water supply and sanitation sector made substantial progress in urban areas from the mid-1990s until at least 2006, with substantial increases in coverage as well as in operational and commercial performance. Sector reforms and amendments from 1998 to 2003 included the commercialization and modernization of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) operating in cities and larger towns, as well as decentralization and private sector participation in small towns.[17]Uganda has renewable water resources of about 2085 m3/yr which is statistically above the limit recognized internationally of 100 m3/yr of water scarcity. Nevertheless, the water sector is developed and only about 0.5% of the total available water is utilized per year.[18]

Uganda has made some progress and improvements in water supply through improving facilities which was at 39% by 1990 to 48% by 2008 and this was limited to remote and rural areas at 40% in 1990 and 49% by 2008. This was not the case with the urban areas which had 35% by 1995 and 38% by 2008.[18]

River Nile in Uganda

Some of the Animal species in the Ugandan Wildlife Ecosystem

Some of the Animal species in the Ugandan Ecosystem

In 2010, Uganda had 6.93Mha of tree cover, extending over 29% of its land area. In 2020, it lost 73.6kha of tree cover, equivalent to 36.0Mt of CO₂ emissions. From 2001 to 2020, 918kha of tree cover was lost, equivalent to a 12% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and 413Mt of CO₂ emissions. From 2001 to 2019, 3.8% of tree cover loss occurred in areas where the dominant drivers of loss resulted in deforestation.[19] This has reduced both the ecosystem services the forests provide, including by diminishing wood yield and quality, and the biodiversity they support. 1.4Mha of land has burned so far as of 2021. This total is normal compared to the total for previous years going back to 2001. The most fires recorded in a year was 2005, with 7.3Mha.[20]

Uganda's economy is divided into three major sectors: agriculture, industry and services sector and all these are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.[21] Some of the ways through the major sector which is the agricultural sector is affected are: reducing the area suitable for agriculture due to population growth, altering the length of the growing season, reducing the yield potential, increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events (in particular droughts and floods) and increasing the incidence of plant diseases (World Bank, 2013).[21]

Climate change damage estimates in the agriculture, water, infrastructure and energy sectors collectively amount to 2-4% of GDP between 2010 and 2050. With an estimate population of 48,432,863, Uganda the leading country with organic farming with an estimate of 231,157 hectares of land used for farming.[22] Climate change is predicted to have a significant impact on Uganda in also sectors.[21]

Climate change has affected agriculture, which is the most important sector of the economy.[23] Most of the production is from small scale farmers.[24] The average temperatures range between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius but it can tend to raise to about 37 Celsius in some places.[25]

The Uganda manufacturing sector is dominated by agro-processing, food and beverages, household products, construction materials and fast-moving consumer goods. Most firms are small and medium enterprises concentrated in Kampala and Central region. Most of the manufactured products produced in Uganda are aimed at domestic consumption, and exports are limited to the regional markets in East Africa which include Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the regions of Kenya and Tanzania bordering Uganda.[26]

Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP) in Uganda was reported at 15.8% in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Uganda, Manufacturing sector, value added (% of GDP) actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on April of 2022, employing about 6.622% of the formal sector Labour.[26]

Coffee Pulping Process On Small Scale

Steel Works factory

Climate change is infuriating the occurrences of water-borne diseases such as dysentery, cholera, hepatitis E, vector-borne diseases especially malaria, respiratory diseases and malnutrition-related illnesses. Uganda’s fourth Health Sector Development Plan indicates the importance of developing “early warning systems and dissemination of weather forecasts to help health managers to improve preparedness and response”. [28]