Modernizing the meteorological services in Uganda

Mar 23, 2018

WORLD METROLOGY DAY

By 2013 it was noted that the current climate monitoring and early warning systems in Uganda were not functioning as optimally as they should have, for increasing adaptive capacity of local communities and sectors.

This restricted long-term planning, management and early warning activities for climate change impacts, given the increase in frequency and intensity of droughts, floods and severe storms that would significantly undermine social and economic development under a changing climate.

Relief and rehabilitation were the focus of climate and disaster management in Uganda. As well there were limited hard and soft technologies, and well as human and technical capacity to utilize these technologies.

This has resulted in:

i) insuffi cient understanding of current and future climate risks;

ii) inadequate monitoring and forecasting of climate hazards;

iii) inappropriate communication and packaging of warnings;

iv) restricted response to impending climate hazards; and

v) constrained planning for long-term climate changes in economic development and risk reduction efforts.

One way to support eff ective adaptation planning, for an increase in intensity and frequency of droughts, floods and severe storms is to improve climate monitoring and early warning systems.

Accurate weather and climate information and forecasting are essential for planning and managing economic production and the provision of social services, particularly under a changing climate.

Since 2014 the Ministry of Water and Environment has been implementing the UNDP-GEF funded US$ 4 Million "Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems (SCIEWS) project", as part of the support to 11 Least Developed Countries in Africa, including Uganda.

The total in kind contribution by the Government and other Development partners has been estimated at approximately 23 Million USD.The project is ending by the 30th June 2018, after achieving almost all the planned outputs.

Other responsible parties in this project are: The Department of Water Resource Management (DWRM); Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management (DRDPM)/Offi ce of the Prime Minister (OPM); the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF), the Ministry of Local Government, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development which is the Nationally Designated Authority for Aid liaison. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS SUPPLEMENT 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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