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OPINION

By Robert Kigongo

The early warning of World Meteorological Organisation Report 2023/2024 stating “2024 is projected to be hotter than 2023 the hottest year in history of planet earth” is manifesting right before our eyes, fresh and bones at the cost of human lives and livestock’s.

The world is unprecedentedly facing obnoxious heat waves that has resulted into death of children in South Sudan and other parts of the Sahel Region is a result a surging Climate crisis.

The Climate anomaly in Sahel Region particularly South Sudan is also not sparing other parts of the World and Kampala where am a resident.

As a resident of Bunga Hill urban cell, Ggaba Parish Kampala District on the showers of a transboundary fresh water body Lake Victoria that used to have a cool breeze, I have since abandoned my night sleeping norm of covering bed blanket at Night because of the heat levels as a consequence of Climate catastrophe.

Back at my ancestral home area Gomba District, which is a water insecure farming area that has been largely depending on rain waters for agriculture production but lately it’s unfortunate the scorching Sun and heat are withering our plantains and coffee which leading to a reduction in yields, agricultural production and productivity. 

The earlier the governments and communities prioritise climate action the better, because any delays will tantamount to climate crisis opening the gates of hell! ooh yes! I meant gates of hell.

Sadly, hell is in front of us if don’t act now! as a victim of the scorching Sun resulting into severe heat waves, at my discretion, imagine have suspended wearing suits, neck-ties for work that is against my professional work dress code. 

Nestled in the heart of Uganda, Kampala faces an unprecedented heatwave, sparking a myriad of challenges for its residents and the surrounding metropolitan area. 

This climatic anomaly stems from a complex interplay of synoptic climate features and human activities. 

Kampala, situated near the equator, experiences heightened solar radiation compounded by the urban heat island effect fueled by rapid urbanization and escalating greenhouse gas emissions. 

Synoptic phenomena like the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) contribute to diminished rainfall and arid conditions across the region, exacerbating the heatwave. El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, characterized by elevated sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, further intensify the heatwave by inducing drought and raising temperatures. 

The Congo Air Boundary Layer (CABL), transporting warm, moisture-laden air from the Congo Basin, exacerbates heat and humidity levels in Kampala and the surrounding region. 

“Fluctuations in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Southern Annular Mode (SAM) result in reduced cloud cover and heightened solar radiation, intensifying the heatwave”

Collectively, these synoptic features significantly contribute to the current heatwave in Kampala and East Africa, exacerbating heat and drought conditions while reducing cloud cover and increasing solar radiation levels.

The ramifications of this ongoing heatwave reverberate throughout Kampala's sprawling urban landscape and metropolitan area, presenting a multitude of socio-economic and environmental challenges. 

Rising temperatures pose a threat to human health, escalating the risk of heat-related illnesses and straining healthcare infrastructure and resources. 

Vulnerable populations are particularly susceptible to heat stress, necessitating immediate intervention measures to safeguard their well-being. 

Additionally, the built environment bears the brunt of the heatwave, with escalating demand for cooling systems amplifying energy consumption and exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions, perpetuating the cycle of climate change.

In response to the exigencies of the heatwave, Kampala must adopt a multifaceted approach encompassing short-term relief measures and long-term resilience-building strategies.

Immediate interventions include public health campaigns to disseminate information on heat-related risks and promote adaptive behaviors, alongside the distribution of emergency supplies to alleviate immediate distress among vulnerable communities. 

Strategically, investments in green infrastructure initiatives, such as urban greening projects and tree planting endeavors, offer sustainable solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect and bolster natural cooling capacities. 

Moreover, integrating climate considerations into urban planning frameworks facilitates the development of climate-resilient infrastructure, enhancing Kampala's ability to withstand future climatic perturbations and safeguard the well-being of its inhabitants.

Addressing the issue of pre-export comfort on auto mobility which is the leading cause of greenhouse missions in urban set-ups must be addressed effectively. 

Old exhausted cars that over pollute our fresh air with very toxic greenhouse carbon emissions must totally banned from even accessing metropolitan Kampala and all urban centers.

I have consistent in many of my articles and climate action crusade about the automobile industry how if pollutes the environment at unimaginable grand scale;

For example, typical passenger car alone emitters around 4.9 Metric tons of carbon dioxide per year;

Imagine how many millions of passenger cars emits daily world over especially those old cars scattered all over Kampala, Nairobi, Dar-Es-Salam, Kinshasa, Juba. 

The auto mobility industry the manufactures vehicles and motor equipment are as one of the leading carbon-dioxide emitters contributing to global warming should consider by the enforcers of Pre-Export Conformity law are as follows; 

i) Control air pollutant emissions from new vehicles.

ii) Update and tighten pollutant emissions limits.

iii) Regulate brake and tyre emissions.

iv) Pre-export conformity laws in developing countries like South Sudan and Uganda that have turned out to be dumping sites for old vehicles should strictly be implemented.

v) Prioritise using digital tools to ensure lifetime compliance and improve battery durability for electric vehicles.

Notably, in my advice regulation efforts and laws with “Costly Punishments” to emitters should be put in place to save the earth from the scourge of heat waves exposing the planet to global warming.

In conclusion, Kampala's response to the prevailing heatwave underscores the urgency for coordinated action and forward-thinking strategies to navigate its impacts and fortify the city's resilience. 

Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, Kampala can emerge from the crucible of the heatwave as a beacon of sustainable urban development, equipped to confront future climate challenges with resilience and foresight. 

It is imperative to act swiftly as failure to do so may result in irreversible impacts of not only the current heatwave but also climate change as a whole.

I call upon climate action now from Ugandan government, United Nations FAO and UNEP, partners from the global north who entirely responsible for the climate crisis we are facing as global south like USAID, SIDA, European Union, UK AID, Japan, China, Canada, Vatican to increase climate financing.

Robert Kigongo is a nature based business trainee with United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation