Climate experts have cautioned the government about the current direct consequences of human activity, which have intensified the frequency and severity of flooding and extreme weather conditions across the country.
According to Mr Aggrey Aluso, the Executive Director of Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA), some of the signs of climate change are already visible in communities, with impacts stretching far beyond the environment to now health.
‘Government needs to adopt a proactive, anticipatory budgets that prioritise and support whole-sum communities, especially those most affected by climate shocks, including flooding,’ Mr Aluso urged the government on Thursday during a workshop by a group of civil society organisations in Kampala.
The caution by Mr Aluso comes at a time when the country is facing a wave of flash floods/ mudslides resulting from the ongoing terrestrial rains.
About three weeks ago, dozens of residents of the Sebei region were killed by mudslides that ravaged the area.
Likewise, human-triggered activities like the redevelopment of the Nakivubo drainage channel by businessman Hamis Kiggundu have resulted in the loss of merchandise worth millions of shillings by Kampala traders due to floods that inundated their shops.
The affected traders are yet to be compensated by the government, though a section of them has since petitioned the High Court in Kampala for redress.
Mr Aluso said flooding has become a global phenomenon, including the USA, the world’s superpower, which in the recent past had its subways flooded despite having the best engineers and proactive thinkers.
‘We have a scenario which is unfolding where we have elastic weather patterns of either it’s too hot or too wet. With the increasing temperatures, we have more warm days, causing evaporation, which is why we are having these floods everywhere. You saw the Brazilian flooding that was serious, and also in Kenya, which happened near my home.’ Mr Aluso said.
In the context of resilience, Mr Aluso emphasized that climate change not only creates health challenges but also a major threat to agriculture, with many farmers losing productivity due to unpredictable weather.
‘Climate pressures are forcing people to migrate to urban centers, creating congestion and straining already aggravated physical infrastructure and policies,’ he said
Speaking at the same event, Ms Anne Lumbasi, a senior advisor with RANA-Uganda, said Uganda stands at a pivotal moment in advancing the resilience agenda across climate, health, gender, finance, and food systems.
‘The recent tragedies, such as the November 29, 2025, mudslides in Kwene District that claimed nine lives, and destructive floods in Kampala, highlight the urgency of this agenda,’ Ms Lumbasi said.
Adding: ‘These climate-induced disasters are compounded by weak emergency response systems, fragile health infrastructure, unregulated food systems, persistent gender disparities, and protracted underinvestment in disaster preparedness.’