Critical role of communication in climate action: A case of Kampala floods

By Jackline Ayesiza

At least ten people were killed in the disastrous floods that swept through Kampala on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, leaving houses inundated, streets impassable, and livelihoods in ruins. 

The downpour revealed the city's susceptibility to extreme weather events. The risk is increased by clogged drains arising majorly from poor solid waste disposal and encroaching wetlands, as well as Uganda's changing climate, which brings more intense and unpredictable rainfall. 

Beyond the immediate devastation, however, there is a deeper lesson to be learned: good communication is essential to reducing the effects of climate change, and its lack or insufficiency can transform controllable hazards into catastrophic events. 

In climate mitigation, communication is about more than just sending out alerts; it is also about raising awareness, encouraging readiness, and motivating group action. Despite the Meteorological Authority's ability to provide seven-day weather forecasts, many locals were taken by surprise this week. Why? 

The typical Kampalan frequently does not receive these projections in a timely, useful manner. Text messaging and radio alerts, which have been shown to be successful in other flood-prone areas like Mozambique, are still not widely used here. Urban growth is outpacing community-level education on flood concerns, such as preventing wetland encroachment or cleaning drainage channels. 

The loss of lives and property is another clear indication of the cost of this communication breakdown. Early warnings that are customized for individual communities, disseminated via easily accessible channels like local FM stations or village WhatsApp groups, and bolstered by community leaders who are educated to analyze and respond to weather data could have prevented these tragedies.

Furthermore, tackling the underlying reasons for Kampala's flooding crisis requires effective communication. The degradation of wetlands, which are natural buffers that absorb excess water, and poor solid waste management have long been blamed. Public awareness initiatives to stop these behaviours, however, are at best patchy. 

Imagine if everyone knew that construction in wetlands could cause their areas to flood constantly or that a throwaway plastic bottle could choke a drainage channel. What if this information was combined with helpful advice on how to properly dispose of rubbish? Delivered consistently, such messaging has the potential to change behaviour and lessen the city's susceptibility over time.

The floods of this week serve as a wake-up call for improved infrastructure as well as a revolution in climate action communication. To close the gap between public action and scientific predictions all stakeholders must work together. 

Real-time flood risk mapping may be done using modern tools such as satellites, which would send data to a system that would notify locals via loudspeakers or SMS. While media outlets beyond the occasional headline should give daily weather updates and mitigation advice priority, schools and churches might serve as centres for climate education.

The robustness of Kampala and other developing urban centers thus depends on more than just culverts and concrete channels. It calls for a city where all residents are knowledgeable, capable, and actively involved in combating climate change.

The losses from yesterday served as a sobering reminder that even the finest plans can fail due to a lack of efficient communication.

The writer is a communications specialist.