Uganda is scorching under an intense heatwave, and experts warn that the worst may not be over.
George William Omonyi, Principal Meteorologist at the Ministry of Water and Environment, warns that the country should brace for even higher temperatures, with 2024 already on record as the hottest year yet.
Since 2000, Uganda’s average temperatures have been steadily climbing, signaling a disturbing trend of extreme and persistent heat.
Experts attribute this anomaly to a mix of global climate change and local environmental shifts, raising concerns about how long Ugandans will have to endure these punishing conditions.
Central Uganda, especially Kampala's temperatures, have surged to 30°C in the first two months of the year, exceeding the normal 28°C average.
Other regions, notably parts of Northern Uganda and Kasese, have also recorded temperatures above normal levels.
Omony says one of the primary factors why it is hot today is the dry season.
He attributes the extreme heat to both natural and human-induced causes. He points to the ongoing dry season—December, January, and February—as a major contributor.
Additionally, he highlights the role of cirrus clouds, a high-altitude, thin, and transparent cloud type that allows solar radiation to reach the Earth's surface without obstruction, significantly increasing ground temperatures.
"The type of the cloud, cirrus, is 20km above the surface, it is high. It is very predominant. It is a thin cloud and transparent. It increases the temperature. When the solar radiation comes from the sun, it passes it. it reaches the surface of the earth easily, and it results into increasing the temperature of the earth," he said.
The meteorologist warns that the heat will persist until mid-March, cautioning Ugandans to take necessary precautions.
"The heat will go up to mid-March, and it will be scorching from morning to evening," he says.
He advises the public to take measures such as avoiding black clothing, keeping doors open during the day for ventilation, ensuring proper airflow at night, and staying hydrated.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023 as the warmest year ever.
Data indicates that 2024 was 1.28°C (2.30°F) warmer than the entire 20th-century average.
This alarming rise in temperature is linked to global climate change, primarily driven by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial emissions.
These factors trap more heat and contribute to global warming, a crisis further intensified in urban areas by the "urban heat island" effect, where buildings and concrete surfaces absorb and radiate more heat.
While Omony acknowledges that extreme heat is largely a natural phenomenon, he does not dismiss the role of human activities in exacerbating the situation.
As extreme weather patterns continue to unfold, experts warn that without serious intervention, the country could face even more severe climate-related challenges in the future.