September to have heaviest rainfall, experts sound alarm
Kalerwe suburb in Kampala after Friday’s downpour . PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
What you need to know:
Regional forecast
North-western. High chances of near-normal to below-normal rains.
Central and L. Victoria basin. High chances of near-normal rains with slight tendency to above normal rains.
South-eastern. High chances of normal rains with slight tendency to above normal.
North-eastern. High chances of near-normal to below-normal rains.
Central-north. High chances of normal to below normal rains in most parts.
The second rainy season started unusually early, but more than else, experts have warned of disasters as the seasonal rainfall outlook for September to December predicts above normal rains in some parts of the country.
The weather outlook, released by the Department of Meteorology last week, shows that lightning, strong and gusty winds as well as episodic flash floods might be experienced in some areas, putting lives of both humans and livestock at risk.
Mr Michael Nkalubo, the acting commissioner for meteorology, said other disasters may arise from possible landslides mostly in mountainous areas of western, south-western and eastern Uganda.
“Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to avoid loss of life and destruction of infrastructure and property,” Mr Nkalubo said in the statement. He said the findings were made during the 29th Climate Outlook Forum (COF29) for the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) in Entebbe on September 1 to 3.
Based on the trends of the ongoing weather patterns, it was observed that there will be an increased likelihood of above-normal rain in southern, central, Lake Victoria basin, and eastern Uganda.
The new forecast, however, comes at a time when floods triggered off by heavy rains have destroyed several homesteads, food crops and infrastructure in many parts of the country. Late last month, at least 30 people were killed in a mudslides in Bulambuli District.
Government recently warned that hundreds of families in eastern region risk starvation in the next four months after crops rotted following floods that left soils water-logged.
September to December is the second major rainfall season in Uganda.
During the same period, Mr Nkalubo said some parts of the country will receive relatively low rainfall, which will not enable people to wipe out the drought impacts that have persisted in few isolated areas for several months.
Transport sector is also likely to be affected as roads would be cut off by intense rainfall and water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid may emerge across the country.
Scientists say the rains are expected to improve agricultural activities and enhance food securuty. They advised farmers to make use of the season to optimise crop yield through appropriate land-use management.
Meteorologists also predicated the coming rains to enhance the levels of water in the rivers and lakes hence rising levels of water in dams for more energy generation.
