Uganda’s quest to achieve middle-income status by 2020 has many discernible roadblocks.
But one of those that little attention is being paid to is climate change, a senior government official has said.
The head of the climate change department at the ministry of water and environment, Chebet Maikut, warns that since the country’s backbone is agriculture, any devastating effects of climate change can hinder economic development leading to food insecurity, low exports, and a reduction in the country’s per capita income.
Chebet spoke recently at Colline hotel, Mukono during the opening ceremony of a four-day training of journalists on climate change reporting.
“Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is a development issue. It covers life and death. And if we do not act earlier, it will be difficult to achieve the middle-income status with it,” he said.
Authorities concede that due to the irregular changes in temperatures and rainfall reception in various areas of the country, agriculture production is likely to suffer a dip.
Chebet blamed the drought and hunger prevailing in different parts of the country on climate change and called upon all Ugandans to take the issue seriously.
Currently, due to poor production from the last farming season, the country is experiencing famine in various districts. Chebet, however, said that the government is committed and well-equipped to fight climate change given the measures already put in place.
The government adopted a national climate change policy after preparing and submitting intended nationally-determined conditions to end climate change, which followed a six-month period of countrywide inquiries.
Uganda is also a member of the Paris agreement on climatic change, which was signed in December last year, to streamline an international framework on climate change.
By 2030, government wants to see a reduction of emissions causing climate change. This will be done by emphasizing use of renewable energy sources, as well as replenishing forest cover, and wetlands.
The government wants farmers to store food, plant drought and pest-resistant crops, as well as reduce the sizes of cattle herds in dry seasons to mitigate the impact of climate change and ensure food security.
But key questions remain on major interventions needed – such the promotion of irrigation to reduce overreliance on unreliable rainfall.
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