Uganda airport lacks weather radar
Sep 08, 2011
Officials of the Meteorological department have warned that Uganda is sitting on a time bomb due to lack of weather radar at Entebbe International airport.
By Josephine Maseruka
Officials of the Meteorological department have warned that Uganda is sitting on a time bomb due to lack of weather radar at Entebbe International airport.
The commissioner for Meteorology Michael Nkalubo told MPs on the natural resources committee that although the issue of acquiring radar has been on for years it has never been considered a priority.
“Even during the 2007 CHOGM meeting, we were told that the Ministry of Defence radar was a more priority than weather Radar. We are telling you we are sitting on a time bomb at Entebbe.â€
He noted that weather radar is very important in detecting of thunderstorms and Uganda requires at least two of them each at US$ 4,000,000 (about sh11.2bn). The total amount required is US$8,000.000 (about sh22.4bn).
He added that 600,000 Euros are needed to buy an integrated lightening warning system for early detection of lighting. Several people have this year been killed by lightning among them school children.
Metrology department has a meager budget of only about sh8.2bn this financial year and the weather Radar has been provided as unfunded priority.
Committee chairman Michael Werikhe stated, “This is true we all travel and we take off and land by God’s providence. This is a fact.â€
Nkalubo also said that the department is capital intensive that calls for “an elaborate weather network to observe the weather, very high computing system for the data and adequate and professional staff.â€
He said their major problem was lack of modern equipment with majority of them not functioning.
Nkalubo however said that Uganda has the best weather forecasts rated at 70% accuracy rate and among the best globally.
Beatrice Anywar (FDC) regretted that five years ago the issue of radar was considered especially for the CHOGM visitors. “Let us be told the truth as to how much funds were allocated and what they did. Since Meteorology department is the process of becoming an agency, let us source out people who can avail us with funds for the radar.â€
Benjamin Cadet (independent) noted that even the 70% meteorological department is boasting of is from the Kenya meteorological department which is currently helping us with forecast since Uganda has no equipment.
“Worse, the commissioner cannot tell us this but the fact is they are not allowed to give meteorological information to the media. They give it to either the minister or the permanent secretary and by the time it is relayed it is old.â€
MPs on the committee supported the idea of not approving the ministry’s budget until funds are allocated for the Radar as a priority for the good image and safety of the country.
State minister for water Betty Bigombe presented shocking details that showed that in 1977 Uganda had 1006 weather stations which have currently reduced to only 240 with a mere 80 stations being active.
She explained that the optimum number of stations for effective service delivery should be 800.
Bigombe gave estimates of specialized equipment for metrological service which include wind shear for detecting wind for aviation purposes where 1.35m Euros are needed to buy 3 wind shears each at 450,000 Euros.
Over 3m Euros is required to buy 11 different equipment for the department to effectively function.
Bigombe refuted claims that the meteorological department gives unreliable information saying, the ministry issues seasonal forecasts in collaboration with leading regional and international climate scientists and the forecast is rated as over 70% accurate and ranked amongst the most accurate in the world.â€
She said that dissemination of the seasonal forecast is not protected as the department was established without a legal framework and cannot protect and safeguard its products.
Officials of the Meteorological department have warned that Uganda is sitting on a time bomb due to lack of weather radar at Entebbe International airport.
The commissioner for Meteorology Michael Nkalubo told MPs on the natural resources committee that although the issue of acquiring radar has been on for years it has never been considered a priority.
“Even during the 2007 CHOGM meeting, we were told that the Ministry of Defence radar was a more priority than weather Radar. We are telling you we are sitting on a time bomb at Entebbe.â€
He noted that weather radar is very important in detecting of thunderstorms and Uganda requires at least two of them each at US$ 4,000,000 (about sh11.2bn). The total amount required is US$8,000.000 (about sh22.4bn).
He added that 600,000 Euros are needed to buy an integrated lightening warning system for early detection of lighting. Several people have this year been killed by lightning among them school children.
Metrology department has a meager budget of only about sh8.2bn this financial year and the weather Radar has been provided as unfunded priority.
Committee chairman Michael Werikhe stated, “This is true we all travel and we take off and land by God’s providence. This is a fact.â€
Nkalubo also said that the department is capital intensive that calls for “an elaborate weather network to observe the weather, very high computing system for the data and adequate and professional staff.â€
He said their major problem was lack of modern equipment with majority of them not functioning.
Nkalubo however said that Uganda has the best weather forecasts rated at 70% accuracy rate and among the best globally.
Beatrice Anywar (FDC) regretted that five years ago the issue of radar was considered especially for the CHOGM visitors. “Let us be told the truth as to how much funds were allocated and what they did. Since Meteorology department is the process of becoming an agency, let us source out people who can avail us with funds for the radar.â€
Benjamin Cadet (independent) noted that even the 70% meteorological department is boasting of is from the Kenya meteorological department which is currently helping us with forecast since Uganda has no equipment.
“Worse, the commissioner cannot tell us this but the fact is they are not allowed to give meteorological information to the media. They give it to either the minister or the permanent secretary and by the time it is relayed it is old.â€
MPs on the committee supported the idea of not approving the ministry’s budget until funds are allocated for the Radar as a priority for the good image and safety of the country.
State minister for water Betty Bigombe presented shocking details that showed that in 1977 Uganda had 1006 weather stations which have currently reduced to only 240 with a mere 80 stations being active.
She explained that the optimum number of stations for effective service delivery should be 800.
Bigombe gave estimates of specialized equipment for metrological service which include wind shear for detecting wind for aviation purposes where 1.35m Euros are needed to buy 3 wind shears each at 450,000 Euros.
Over 3m Euros is required to buy 11 different equipment for the department to effectively function.
Bigombe refuted claims that the meteorological department gives unreliable information saying, the ministry issues seasonal forecasts in collaboration with leading regional and international climate scientists and the forecast is rated as over 70% accurate and ranked amongst the most accurate in the world.â€
She said that dissemination of the seasonal forecast is not protected as the department was established without a legal framework and cannot protect and safeguard its products.