Papyrus blocks box culverts and part of the road after River Kafu burst its banks, flooding the road and paralysing transport. Photo: Unra
Heavy rainfall has caused flash floods across Uganda, damaging or even washing away roads and bridges. As the impoverished East African country stares at the adverse effects of climate change, government is seeking a World Bank loan to promote climate smart agriculture.
On December 06, Parliament authorized a request by government to borrow up to $325 million (Shs1.23 trillion) from the International Development Association of the World Bank so as to finance the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project. The loan will come with a grant of $25 million (Shs94.5 billion).
Under this project, Uganda will deploy modern technology in the agriculture sector so as to improve productivity. The project will also have a value addition component focusing on agro processing.
Disbursement of funds is pending due to government’s delays in filing the necessary documents and adopting World Bank covenants, according to Robert Migadde, the deputy chairperson of the national economy committee which scrutinized the loan request. This means that until government has fulfilled such requirements, Uganda will not receive the money it needs to undertake clean energy interventions, buy harvesting machinery and infrastructure. No grants will come as well.
At the ongoing COP28 climate summit in Dubai, UAE, rich countries succeeded in placing the loss and damage fund under the World Bank, which sets conditions that may make nations like Uganda fail to get financing to mitigate climate change effects. (See Details Here and There).
Months ago, the World Bank announced it would no longer give money to Uganda over the Anti-homosexuality Act, affecting a number of multibillion projects. (Read Details Here, There and Over There).
Interestingly, after spending trillions to buy firewood, Museveni Government recently begged the World Bank for Money – despite loan freeze threats over homosexuals. (Read Story Here).
As Parliament approved government’s plan for a loan request to finance climate change interventions through smart agriculture, Speaker Anita Among directed government to table a report on floods in the capital Kampala, how they are affecting dwellers and what government plans to do to mitigate the impact of the floods.
“As we all know that climate change is a reality, and when we talk about climate change, I want a report on the floods in Kampala,” said Among.
“I want a serious report about the flooding in Kampala. If you go to Namasuba, Busega, Forest Mall, Namboole it is really terrible.”
On November 21, Ugandan transport and works minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala said “the recent heavy rains across the country have caused significant damage to our road and bridge infrastructure,” adding “the intense and prolonged rainfall has led to widespread flooding, landslides and erosion resulting in deterioration and in some cases complete failure of transportation networks.”
On November 06, River Kafu burst its banks at Karongo Village, 19.8Km from Hoima. This cut off road connectivity between Hoima and Kampala, causing long diversions. Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) advised motorists travelling from Kampala to Hoima to use the Hoima-Masindi-Kafu-Luwero-Kampala route or the Hoima-Buhimba-Nalweyo-Kakumiro- Mubende-Kampala route.
For about a week, until November 13, Unra waited for the floods to subside before assessing the damage.
On November 28, River Rusango overflowed, causing floods that made the Muzizi-Buremba Road at km20 inaccessible. Unra advised motorists to use the Muzizi-Ibanda-Kazo-Kyegegwa Road as an alternative route.
On the same day, floods damaged the Mpanga Bridge, affecting Rwenjaza-Kabujogera Road, making it difficult to connect between Kitagwenda and Kamwenge districts. Unra advised motorists from Kitagwenda to Ibanda to use the Kitagwenda-Kagongo route to reach Ibanda.
On December 02, rising water levels from River Mpondwe damaged the bridge along Bwera-Mpondwe Road, 33km from Kikorongo in Kasese, disrupting traffic flow.
On December 06, Unra admitted that rising water levels in the Lubigi Swamp had caused a road failure at the Busega-Kyengera section of the Kampala-Masaka Highway. There was erosion of the foot of the embankment along section, causing damage to approximately 1.5 meters of the road pavement (carriageway) near the embankment, according to the roads agency.
As such damage from climate change disasters continues, African countries’ ministers have expressed their disappointment with rich nations’ lack of seriousness on providing funds for loss and damage as well as adaptation. (Read Details Here and There)
At COP28, Uganda’s 606 representatives – who include personal assistants – have not registered much success except for a few deals with capitalists such as one committing to start a gas factory. (See Details Here and There).
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