A prolonged drought in Kasese District has plunged livestock farmers in Nyakatonzi Sub-county into crisis, with nearly 300 cattle reported dead and thousands more weakened by acute shortages of pasture and water.
The drought, which has persisted for nearly six months without significant rainfall, has left grazing fields barren, dried up valley dams and streams, and sharply reduced milk production, threatening the livelihoods of the predominantly Basongora pastoralist community.
Ham Natuhwera, a livestock farmer in Nyakatonzi, said the area is experiencing one of its worst dry spells in recent years.
"Our animals are dying because there is neither pasture nor water. Every day we lose more cattle, and those still alive are extremely weak. We fear many families will lose everything if the rains delay further," Natuhwera said.
The prolonged dry spell has also forced many farmers to sell their cattle at throwaway prices before they succumb to hunger and dehydration.
Jacob Muzoora, another livestock farmer, said the sharp decline in milk production has deprived many households of their primary source of income.
"We have no option but to sell some animals cheaply because we cannot feed them. Even the few cows that survive are producing very little milk, making it difficult to support our families," Muzoora said.
Residents say valley dams constructed by the government about five years ago to provide water during prolonged dry spells have dried up, leaving pastoralists with limited alternatives.
Natuhwera urged authorities to prioritize the regular maintenance and replenishment of the dams.
"These valley dams were built to help us during droughts. If they were regularly maintained and replenished, many of these cattle deaths could be prevented," he said.
The Chairperson of the Nyakatonzi Cattle Keepers Cooperative, Kenneth Muyambi, said farmers are now trekking several kilometres in search of water, with many animals collapsing before reaching the few remaining water sources.
"Our cattle are walking long distances in search of water, but many are too weak to complete the journey. Unless urgent assistance is provided, we risk losing entire herds," Muyambi said.
He appealed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to temporarily permit controlled grazing inside the national park until rainfall resumes.
"We are requesting a temporary arrangement that would allow controlled grazing in designated areas of the park. This would save thousands of animals without compromising conservation efforts," he added.
Kasese District Agricultural Officer Julius Rukara urged livestock farmers to adopt micro-scale irrigation to grow pasture throughout the year instead of relying solely on seasonal rainfall.
"Climate change is making droughts more frequent. Farmers should gradually invest in pasture production through micro-irrigation so they have reliable feed even during prolonged dry seasons," Rukara said.
With weakened cattle lying helplessly on scorched grazing fields and more animals dying each day, livestock farmers warn that unless urgent interventions are undertaken, the drought could wipe out the herds that sustain hundreds of households across Nyakatonzi Sub-county and surrounding areas.