Uganda, East Africa

Sister Semerita 
Mbambu, CSC

Congregation Justice Committee Member for Uganda

Climate Update

Uganda is experiencing significant impacts of climate change, including changing weather patterns, lower water levels, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, like floods and droughts. The social and economic ramifications of these impacts make communities very vulnerable. Climate change is affecting a wide variety of sectors: Agriculture, water, health and human settlements have been particularly impacted.

The environment and natural resources are also threatened by man-made drivers of change. These include poverty, rapid population growth, unplanned urbanization, expansion of informal settlements, poor disposal of garbage, especially plastic bags, and industrialization.

The fragile ecosystems of the mountains, lakeshores and rangelands are facing encroachment and degradation. Pollution is increasing, and the country is contending with environmental issues arising from electronic waste, unsound use of chemicals, oil and gas development, and the impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, storms, heat waves and landslides that have had serious effects on agricultural production, food security, nutrition, incomes, health and livelihoods.