Uganda’s climate story is emblematic of a broader African struggle: a region grappling with the compound risks of climate volatility, underdevelopment, and fragile infrastructure. The 2024 WMO report starkly illustrates how temperature spikes, erratic rainfall, and extreme events are no longer abstract statistics—they are devastating lives and livelihoods.

For Uganda and its regional neighbours, the evidence underscores both acute vulnerabilities and an urgent call for bold adaptation and resilience-building. Across Africa, the year 2024 marked one of the hottest on record, featuring widespread droughts, floods, heatwaves, and food insecurity. For Uganda—a landlocked country in East Africa heavily reliant on agriculture—the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality with significant socio-economic consequences.

Uganda faced dual climate threats in 2024. The lingering effects of the multi-year La Niña left regions dry and vulnerable, while floods in the March–May rainy season severely affected infrastructure, displacing communities and destroying crops. The combination of excessive rainfall followed by failed short rains in October–December compounded agricultural instability and food insecurity. Despite modest yield recoveries due to better rainfall early in the year, maize production, a staple in Uganda, remained below the five-year average, and food prices remained volatile.

In addition, a heatwave swept through the Horn of Africa in mid-March, with South Sudan and neighbouring regions, including parts of northern Uganda, recording temperatures of up to 45°C. This unprecedented event forced schools to close and disrupted livelihoods and public services. The direct toll on education, health, and productivity demonstrates the multidimensional nature of the climate crisis.

Across the continent, 2024 was marked by extreme climatic volatility:

  • Temperature Anomalies: Africa's average surface temperature was 0.86°C above the 1991–2020 average—one of the highest on record. Subregional analysis showed North and Southern Africa experiencing the most significant anomalies, while East Africa, including Uganda, saw increases of about 0.68°C.

  • Precipitation Extremes: East Africa oscillated between extreme rainfall and periods of water scarcity. Heavy rains led to deadly landslides in Ethiopia and Kenya, while the October–December season was unusually dry, threatening food production.

  • Sea Surface Temperatures and Marine Heatwaves: Oceans around Africa warmed at record rates, intensifying storm systems and impacting fisheries and coastal ecosystems. This marine heating worsened cyclones in the southwest Indian Ocean, some of which affected Tanzania and Mozambique, disrupting regional weather patterns that indirectly affect Uganda's rainfall.

  • Extreme Events: The Sahel and Central Africa witnessed unprecedented flooding, affecting millions. Meanwhile, Southern Africa was crippled by drought, with Zambia and Zimbabwe facing electricity shortages due to declining water levels in Lake Kariba—Africa's largest reservoir.

Agriculture—the backbone of African economies and the mainstay for rural communities like those in Uganda—is among the hardest-hit sectors. In Uganda, while the March–May rains boosted crop yields, maize output still fell short due to the preceding drought. Further, the October–December rains failed, undermining agricultural recovery efforts.

Elsewhere, North Africa recorded its third consecutive poor cereal harvest, while countries in Southern Africa, particularly Zambia and Zimbabwe, reported yields up to 50% below average. West Africa fared better in some areas, but localised droughts and floods disrupted food production, with Mali experiencing catastrophic food insecurity due to armed conflict and extreme weather.

Africa contributes the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it faces disproportionate climate impacts. Uganda and other low-income nations lack the infrastructure, finance, and governance capacity to mount a robust defence against increasingly volatile weather.

In 2024, adaptation finance remained grossly insufficient. While international support rose to $28 billion, Africa’s estimated annual climate adaptation needs range between $187 and $359 billion. The shortfall continues to hamper the implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which remain underfunded and inconsistently executed across the continent.

Despite the challenges, digital transformation is emerging as a beacon of hope. In Uganda and beyond, mobile-based weather alerts, AI-assisted forecasting tools, and community-based early warning systems are helping bridge the last-mile communication gap. These tools are vital in empowering farmers with real-time data, enabling them to make informed decisions in an increasingly erratic climate.

For instance, the Kenya Meteorological Department’s use of SMS-based forecasts and Nigeria’s digital advisories for farmers exemplify the progress in democratizing climate information. However, such success stories remain exceptions. A continent-wide scale-up of digital infrastructure is imperative, requiring investments in data-sharing frameworks, public-private partnerships, and inclusive technologies that reach marginalised populations.

Our way out

With coordinated action and strategic investment, Africa can still bend the arc of its climate future towards resilience and sustainability. To avert a deepening crisis, Uganda and its continental peers must urgently prioritise the following:

  • Climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems.

  • Strengthening early warning systems and public education.

  • Securing increased international climate finance.

  • Institutionalising digital weather and climate services.

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