From Some Calling It ‘Natural’ or ‘God’s Plan,’ Here’s What Ugandans Think About Climate Change

A report by Twaweza Uganda has offered insights into what Ugandans think about climate change and its impact on their lives, households and communities.

The Sauti za Wananchi (citizens’ voices) data on Ugandan citizens’ understanding and experiences of the climate crisis generally paints a picture of people who are already aware of climate change and bearing the brunt of its adverse effects – the same suffering as seen in other Global South countries contributing minimally to climate change.

The report relied on the opinions and experiences of over 2,600 respondents who took part in a study, which included a phone survey, between October 2022 and November 2023.

Overall, 57 per cent said climate change was worsening. Up to 86 per cent were concerned about how climate change was affecting their lives. The findings indicate that late 2022 was the period more people said climate change was worse.

“A majority of citizens (53 per cent) reported that they had experienced more rain in the rainy season over the past 5-10 years, though most also said the rainy seasons had been shorter than before (53 per cent) and started later (67 per cent). A majority in 2023 (54 per cent) said the temperature had decreased over the past 5-10 years,” said Marie Nanyanzi, the Senior Program Officer at Twaweza Uganda.

Twaweza Uganda, the report authors, say this response could have been promoted by the rainfall and agricultural productivity differences between 2022 and 2023.

THOUGHTS ON CAUSES

On the causes of climate change, 70 per cent considered deforestation the leading cause of climate change; while 19 per cent blamed it on wetland destruction.

Interestingly, nine per cent said “it is just natural” while six per cent said, “It’s God’s plan.”

The same number – six per cent – blamed it on air pollution from industries while seven per cent blamed bush burning.

“Older and poor citizens are more inclined to attribute climate change to divine intervention, while younger, wealthier individuals, particularly those residing in urban areas, are more likely to attribute it to industrial pollution,” Twaweza Uganda noted.

During the launch of the findings, Robert Turyakira, Deputy Executive Director, The Environment Shield, noted that “it is true that the planet has been continuously undergoing natural processes but human activities have worsened the already dire situation.”

THE BURDEN

Up to seven out of 10 citizens reported declining agricultural yields as the most significant or leading environmental change.

This was followed by 28 per cent who cited roads flooding or being washed away, 25 per cent who cited changes in the start of the rainy season, 20 per cent who considered increase in malaria the leading change, and 20 per who cited changes in supply of agricultural produce.

Up to 19 per cent cited changes in the intensity of the rains while 10 per cent considered landslides and mudslides the leading environmental change.

There was more climate change-related impact at community and household levels. Most citizens reported experiencing the impact of climatic or environmental changes at community level (83 per cent), household level (82 per cent), and country level (76 per cent). Most affected households are poor rural ones that largely depend on agriculture.

“Those from lower-income backgrounds and rural areas, particularly in the Eastern and Northern regions of the country, are slightly more likely to report hardship in securing basic necessities,” noted Marie Nanyanzi, the Senior Program Officer at Twaweza Uganda.

The report ranked the major effects of climate change on households as low crop yields at 40 per cent and lack of food at 17 per cent.

At community level, low yields led the pack of effects at 32 per cent whole lack of food was at 17 per cent.

Discussing the findings, Imelda Kanzomba, Principal Agricultural Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Industry, said “climate change is here” and “we must learn to live with it.”

“One crucial step for economies that depend on agriculture is to adopt adaptive and smart agricultural practices,” she added.

FIREWOOD AND CHARCOAL

The report also had found out that most Ugandans depend on firewood and charcoal as their main source of cooking energy. Up to 98 per cent of households reported using one or both of these two sources of energy (firewood and charcoal).

Even with government initiatives such as rural electrification, very few households use electricity, gas or kerosene for cooking. Only three per cent (one per cent for each) said they used  electricity, gas or kerosene but mostly as a secondary source of energy.

Most households in rural Uganda – up to 92 per cent of these rural households – use firewood. Among urban households, 46 per cent used firewood while 51 per cent use charcoal as their main energy source.

In Kampala, charcoal use stood at 78 per cent of all households.

You can read about Uganda’s energy transition plan Here.

(For feedback on this story, Whatsapp +256(0)705690819 or Email pearltimesug@gmail.com)