As global temperatures continue to rise, Uganda finds itself grappling with the mounting impacts of climate change, driven largely by human activity. Experts warn that without urgent, collective intervention, the country could face increasingly severe environmental, economic, and health consequences in the coming years.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, often caused by both natural and human factors. While phenomena such as volcanic eruptions and solar variations have historically influenced global climate, scientists agree that human activities especially the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas have become the primary drivers of global warming since the 1800s.
In East Africa, and particularly in Uganda, environmental specialists attribute rising greenhouse gas emissions to deforestation, industrialisation, and the dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda’s greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase significantly by 2030 unless proposed mitigation strategies are fully implemented.
These measures developed through national workshops and policy dialogues include sustainable energy promotion, reforestation, and stricter environmental regulation.
In 2021, Uganda joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), reaffirming its commitment to improve air quality while tackling climate change.
The country has since taken steps to develop national ambient air quality standards and integrate climate action into broader development plans.
However, experts caution that while institutional frameworks are improving, the pace of implementation remains slow, and success will depend on collective efforts from government, private sector players, and the public.
During a 2023 national dialogue on climate change, Steven Mukasa, Chief Executive Officer of Summit Uganda, emphasised the need for corporate responsibility in the fight against climate change.
“We must align our businesses and communities with global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles,” Mukasa said. “It’s our duty as leaders to innovate and commit to climate-conscious practices within our organisations.”
Following that meeting, several companies began implementing sustainability initiatives such as tree planting, waste management programs, and renewable energy investments. Nonetheless, Mukasa and other leaders have called for greater government support through tax incentives and subsidies to accelerate adoption of green technologies and practices.
When the National Resistance Movement (NRM) assumed power in 1986, Uganda’s population stood at about 14.7 million people. By January 2024, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 46.5 million a threefold increase without any expansion in land size.
This rapid growth has intensified pressure on forests, wetlands, and agricultural land, threatening the country’s fragile ecosystems.
Environmental advocates argue that sustainable land use, waste management, and tree planting must become national priorities.
“Protecting the environment is not just the government’s job it’s a shared responsibility,” Mukasa noted. “Every Ugandan must play a role in preserving the natural resources that sustain us.”
Health experts also warn that environmental degradation directly affects human health. Polluted air and contaminated water increase the risk of respiratory infections, waterborne diseases, and malnutrition.
Dr. Ibrahim Achan, a medical practitioner at one of Uganda’s leading hospitals, emphasised the need for clean water and reforestation as essential components of public health.
“If we want to live longer, we must live clean,” Dr. Achan said. “Without trees, there’s no clean air. Without wetlands, our water systems collapse. Let’s plant more trees than we cut down and protect our swamps—they are like gold.”
He added that environmental stewardship should be seen as a moral and spiritual duty, urging communities to pray, act responsibly, and respect nature’s balance.
As Uganda continues to experience unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and flash floods, experts insist that the fight against climate change requires unity of purpose from policymakers to ordinary citizens.
While government initiatives and private sector engagement offer hope, the real transformation will come from sustained awareness, accountability, and action at all levels of society.