The Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) has urged the government to ensure timely availability of weather forecast reports for risk management and prevention of uncertainties of Bududa, Kasese and Lake Victoria (Boat accident) incident nature among others.
This follows the weather forecast report for September – December 2023 seasonal rainfall outlook over Uganda released by the Ministry of Water and Environment and Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA).
This was revealed on Wednesday by the party head of information and communication Faizo Muzeyi at its headquarter Kampala during its weekly presser.
Muzeyi says this should be strictly followed by the government and the public as it is expected to guide diverse day-to-day activities of the people in the country.
“It’s our hope that the Government will touch base in accordance with the report as opposed to just releasing it,” Muzeyi said.
Muzeyi adds that Uganda is lying along the Equator, receiving rainfall throughout the year with two pronounced rainy seasons. Previously, this was a blessing to the country’s vegetation and soils that directly ensured good food and cash crop harvests across the country which is now changing due to unfriendly environmental practices.
He further highlighted that UPC takes note of the intervening challenges to our rainfall pattern, distribution and intensity which need close attention, study and mitigation. The threats of global climate change are equally with us as we have given them a life line by failure to conserve our blessed natural environment. Mankind is busy cutting down trees and forests carelessly for mainly firewood and charcoal as well as erecting buildings and constructing factories/industries in wetlands.
“This is leaving our soils exposed to excesses of heavy rains that are more dangerous and life threatening as we have witnessed in the past with floods and its associated dangers of loss of lives, damage to crops, animals, houses, and road bridges get washed away. There is a need to urgently step up gears for planting of trees and reforestation with a clear cut policy that any tree which is cut down, a new one must be planted,” Muzeyi said.
The party spokesperson Sharon Oyat Arach urged the Government and the Ministry of Energy to intensify the programme for rural electrification and make electricity cheaper and affordable as a source of energy and power which she says it will alternatively reduce pressure on the trees and forest cover in both medium and long-term which ultimately contributes to sufficient rains. Further, mankind has developed a special appetite for constructing structures in hilly areas without following proper guidelines on land-use patterns.
“Houses are just cropping up on the hills with excessive excavation of the soil, which reduces its capacity to hold together, and in the event of a storm and heavy rains, induced landslides are likely to occur,” Sharon added.
She says farming in highland is equally expected to be of contour ploughing or terracing which is being done in a hazardous manner leading to landslides. The latest case is the Katonga Bridge along Kampala – Masaka highway that collapsed and cut off communication completely. The alternative route of Mpigi – Butambala – Gomba – Ssembabule is being used by heavy trucks thus mounting a lot of pressure on the road whose design is not for such traffic while small cars are using a one-side stepped-up bridge along Katonga River. It has been just a few days that buses have been also permitted to use the same.
“This is indeed demanding and a reflection of all our roads across the country, especially our murrum roads! This is equally a period with enhanced water borne diseases like cholera, dysentery and malaria. Our hygiene and sanitation levels tend to depreciate during the rainfall peaks thus calling for much attention, “Sharon added.
Sharon however advised the farmers saying this period means hard work, planting more crops for both food and cash, weeding, and ensuring good harvesting processes that guarantee quality products which are a big challenge to achieve these days. This is the only way of ensuring food security in the country.
“UPC calls for a multi-sectoral approach in interpreting the demands of this weather forecasting report and carrying out informed activities across the country if we are to make it a reality, “Sharon added.
Apac and Kwania districts to hold party activities
Meanwhile Sharon informed the Party members and general public that UPC shall hold its activities in Apac and Kwania districts on Friday 8th September 2023 where the Party President and Lira City East Division Member of Parliament Hon. Jimmy Akena is expected to grace the activities.
“These are part of the mobilization activities which the Party has been and continues to carry out ahead of the 2025/2026 General Elections,” Sharon said.
In the same vein, Faizo Muzeyi revealed that this is the time for internal arrangements which include organization, sensitization, mobilization, recruitment of members into the Party and identification of potential candidates who shall carry the UPC flag in the forthcoming general elections which calls for sacrifice, commitment and hard work.
