Lauren Vallez in the Guardian:
“This January, I found myself sitting across from Senior Human Resource Officer in the Department of Administration, Office of the President of Uganda. I wanted to know whether they were observing changes to their climate, what those changes were, and if plans for adaptation had been developed. Mr. Benon Twineobusingye, Senior Human Resource Manager in the Office of the President told me that they were already facing increased drought and changes to the hydrological cycle.
Much of the Ugandan economy is based on agriculture, a practice infused in their culture. Normally regular wet and dry periods have become more varied. He stated that they are, ‘…seeing drought. Serious drought that has not happened before. This drought has caused famine in parts of the country. In other parts, there has been too much rain.’ He also told me, ‘It has been very hot these days. Over the years it has gotten hotter with more unpredictable weather.’
But, unlike many countries which are inactive, Uganda has plans. From the top levels of government, they have enacted policies which encourage reforestation. They also are taking steps to preserve wetlands. Will these steps stop climate change? By no means. But they will help insulate Uganda and its neighbors from the impacts.His anecdotal perceptions matched with what scientists expect. Uganda, and many other countries in Africa are at or near the equator. Atmospheric circulation patterns provide regular rainy-dry seasons but the water cycle is being modified. This modification may be occurring because of large scale circulation changes, perhaps it is associated with increases in evaporation and water-holding capacity of the air. Regardless of the cause, people in countries like Uganda live close to the ground, acutely aware of changes to seasonal weather. They have cultivated an agriculture based on traditions that are now being challenged.I also spoke to Dr. Walaga Charles (Executive Director of Environmental Alert) who works on sustainability in Uganda. He concurred with Benon’s assessment by telling me that there have been more unpredictable rainy seasons. They’ve observed shortened rainy seasons with crop failures. Although he believes rainfall will in general increase with climate change, the regularity will also change. They expect more flooding and saturated ground. I even observed such flooding during unexpected rains this January.But Dr. Walaga also told me that increases in temperature are increasing animal diseases and pests. For example, coffee rust is a leaf disease that is now being monitored. It used to be common in warm areas of the country but now is being found in new regions. The same is being observed with malaria.
He told me that Uganda has developed a climate change policy and an implementation plan. The government has established a climate change unit and is working to upgrade that unit into a department. International organizations such as the United Nations and the Global Environment Facility are providing funds to aid adaptation.
He also told me that Ugandan universities are performing research on climate change and are incorporating climate change into the curriculum. In particular, agricultural schools are developing climate change centers.”
A Master’s degree student, Mr. Denis Bazalirwa, agrees. He told me,
‘I agree there are significant changes in my country’s climate. When I journeyed back there in December 2013, I noticed a change in both daytime and evening temperatures. Rarely did I observe people sleeping with fans and air conditioners but the rise in particular of night time temperatures has forced people to control the unbearable heat. Also, Uganda has two main weather seasons each year. Their timing, however, has changed and it is harder to tell when the current season will end.’
“Rarely did I observe people sleeping with fans and air conditioners but the rise in particular of night time temperatures has forced people to control the unbearable heat.”
The sad thing is about Uganda is only a very few even have access to power at all, especially in the rural areas – difficult to get the A/C or fans fired up without a power source. Pity they have to suffer at the hands of so-called developed nations.
http://www.mbendi.com/indy/powr/af/ug/p0005.htm
Wetlands and planning for change are wise moves – but as things get really severe and ever worse, its hard to see them being enough.
Those who have done least to contribute to the problem of Global Overheating are likely to likely to suffer most from it.
Things will get worse no doubt everywhere but hit especially hard in already poor and troubled Third World nations with the least resources and margins and safety nets for their people to endure it.
Its totally unjust and unfair – But heaven forfend any taxes on the rich and powerful in the First World to help mitigate it or that nations like the USA and my own Australia actually take the lead and help out and set an example. No, it seems that mighty America and relatively wealthy Oz need to wait until Uganda and China, Afghanistan and Angola are straining hard at the metaphorical yoke before our political “leaders’ even consider joining in with international action. Horrible situation.
Aid to “underdeveloped” countries often just disappears into the pockets of the well-connected. The Western countries would do better for them by first eliminating their own carbon emissions, then taking measures to actively remove carbon from the atmosphere. There is no way to embezzle THAT benefit.
I’m sure all these climate problems will end in Uganda once they draw and quarter the last gay person within their borders. Good old Uganda!