Lira is at the forefront of a technological effort that could reshape livestock farming in Northern Uganda, where rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells have increasingly threatened cattle health and productivity.
Researchers at Lira University have developed Thermoscope, a mobile application designed to help farmers detect and manage thermal stress in their animals before the damage becomes severe.
Thermal stress happens when livestock struggle to regulate their body temperature under extreme heat combined with humidity, leading to lower milk yields, reduced fertility, increased vulnerability to disease, and sometimes death.
The Food and Agriculture Organization reported in 2021 that thermal stress can cut milk production by up to 40 percent and disrupt reproduction and immune function, especially in tropical regions like Uganda.
Thermoscope uses the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) to provide real-time monitoring.
The app automatically pulls local weather data—temperature and relative humidity—to calculate the THI and categorise stress levels from normal to severe.
It alerts farmers through a simple colour-coded system, making it easy for anyone to understand without technical training.
Users can monitor multiple farm locations, follow daily and weekly thermal trends, and receive practical advice on reducing heat stress, such as changing grazing times or ensuring shade and water availability.
For Patrick Ogwang, a cattle farmer in Otuke District, rising heat has become a dire challenge.
“The sun has become too much for us. I have lost calves to heat, and milk production drops badly during dry months. Sometimes the cows refuse to feed or move,” he said.
“If this app can warn us early enough, I think it can save our animals.”
Thermoscope’s development followed three years of data gathering from Lira, Soroti, and Kotido districts, which endure some of the harshest dry conditions in Uganda.
Gad Gwizera, the app’s lead developer and lecturer at Lira University, said the data revealed alarming levels of heat stress exposure that demanded a locally adapted solution.
The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation has welcomed the innovation.
Minister Monica Musenero praised it as a practical, locally designed tool that empowers farmers to confront climate challenges.
She called for investment to scale up Thermoscope and integrate it into agricultural extension services nationwide.
While the app is free and available on Google Play, developers are working to increase accessibility. Planned features include voice instructions in local languages, offline functionality, and SMS alerts for farmers without smartphones.
Gwizera urged partners, local governments, and NGOs to help reach vulnerable cattle keepers in hot spots like Karamoja, Lango, and Teso.
As climate change intensifies, tools like Thermoscope could mark a turning point for Uganda’s cattle corridor, offering farmers the knowledge and early warnings needed to protect their livestock and livelihoods amid rising heat.