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For the past three weeks, Uganda, just like other countries in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region like Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan, has experienced high temperatures.

Some scientists have suggested that the increased temperatures could be a result of climate change, with rising global temperatures leading to more extreme weather events.

These extreme temperatures have hurt agriculture, such as crops wilting and livestock struggling to find enough water.

Additionally, changes in weather patterns, such as El Niño or La Niña, could also be contributing to the high temperatures in the region.

In recent days, there have been attempts to advise citizens to take precautions, such as staying hydrated and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, to stay safe.

Governments in these countries need to prioritise climate change mitigation strategies to address the effects of rising temperatures and protect their populations from the impacts of extreme heat.

In countries such as South Sudan, the heat has culminated in heat waves. For Somalia, the winds that blow into Uganda are hot, fuelling a rise in temperatures.

Information from the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA), shows that the current dry conditions will end next week, to pave the way for normal season rains.

However, they provide four explanations for why Ugandans have been experiencing heat for the past three weeks.

The position of the sun overhead the equator is always on March 21, every year and that is when maximum heating of the earth is over the equatorial region, where Uganda is found.

That period starts from the beginning of March until the end of April. That means that the area around the equator will have a lot of solar radiation or heat from the sun.

There is a wind system that has suppressed the rains, causing our area to be dry. It is a global wind that moves around the world and usually follows the line of the equator.

So, it has disrupted rainfall for the third week. The same situation is being experienced in Kenya, Tanzania, and other neighbouring countries.

The wind that has been blowing is coming from Somalia. The Somalia region has a dry and hot wind. So when the air comes over our region, the temperature goes high.

As the sun moves to the equator, the water vapour in the atmosphere increases, because the water vapour must increase to form the clouds that form the rain.

However, because of the wind, the water vapour is now heated up by the solar radiation coming from the sun. And the hot water vapour in the atmosphere releases heat in the atmosphere, amplifying the already higher temperatures.

The Banda wetland is disappearing owing to the developments taking place in Kampala

This process creates a more comfortable environment for its residents. Therefore, maintaining swamps in Uganda is crucial for regulating temperatures and creating a more pleasant atmosphere.

By preserving the natural ecosystems, the country can continue to combat extreme heat and provide a cooler environment for its residents.

In addition, swamps play a key role in biodiversity and water retention, making them essential for the overall health of the environment.

Omonyi says it is important to prioritise the preservation and protection of these valuable resources to ensure a sustainable and comfortable living environment for all.

Avoid bush burning or wildfires to allow the plants or grasses to absorb some heat, and lastly, avoid indiscriminately cutting down trees or forests.

These actions, Omonyi adds, will help maintain the balance of the ecosystem and prevent the loss of crucial habitats for various plant and animal species.

“By taking these steps, we can contribute to the health of our environment and ensure a better future for generations to come. It is essential that we all play our part in protecting and preserving these natural resources for the benefit of all living beings,” he says.

Omonyi adds that it is essential that all people play their part in protecting and preserving these natural resources for the benefit of all living beings, both now and in the future.

Current state of forests/swamps

According to reports from the National Forestry Authority of 2017, Uganda has lost half its forest cover in the last 30 years, from 4.9 million hectares to 2.5 million hectares today.

Of these, 65% of forest degradation takes place on private land because most of the land is turned into agricultural farmland.

Additional information from the 10-year environment restoration plan of the water ministry shows that environmental degradation in Uganda has been increasing.

For instance, the forest cover decreased from 53% in 1900 to 24% in 1990 and then 12.4% in 2017, representing a loss of 2.4 million hectares during the period.

While for wetlands, the country is experiencing an unsustainable degradation rate of 2% annually. The national wetland cover decreased from 15.6% in 1994 to 13% in 2019.

Furthermore, the total renewable surface water resources decreased by 34% between 1995 and 2011.

Pollution of water resources is on the increase due to high population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation, indiscriminate waste disposal, and degradation of water catchments.

For instance, urban centres around Lake Victoria discharge 14.17 tonnes of organic pollution each day into the lake.

The major drivers of deforestation are agricultural activities, urban settlement, unsustainable timber and wood extraction, wildfires, and weak enforcement, while the major drivers of wetland degradation are the search for more agricultural land and urbanisation, which account for over 99.1% of wetlands loss.

The plan adds that the deforestation rate of 1.4% per year has reduced the net biomass accumulation in forest land by 69%.

For the wetlands and forests to be restored and other good environment management practices to be enforced, the water ministry requires a total cost of sh6,796.66b (at an average annual budget rate of sh679.6b).