ADVANCING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INTER-FAITH COOPERATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIMATE ADAPTATION ACTIONS.

Uganda has a typically tropical climate with little variation in temperature throughout the year. Distinctive wet and dry seasons characteristic the annual climate for most of the country, except in the semi-arid northeast. However, the country is vulnerable to climate change, a phenomenon that is growing in importance globally. There is scientific consensus that accelerated global climatic change is attributable to human activities. Impacts resulting from climate change include alteration of weather patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather, alteration of rainfall leading to increased risk of droughts and floods, and disturbing effects on the stability of ecosystems leading to increased likelihood of species migration and species extinctions, as well as negative impacts on food security. Climate change in Uganda threatens to frustrate poverty eradication programs and the achievement of the SDGs. Climate change may undo decades of development efforts through destruction of infrastructure, property and lives. Climate change in Uganda will continue to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, landslides and heat waves.

 

Key actions being taken by Western Uganda FBO Network to mitigate climate Change.

l  We continue to institutionally engage with Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Management under the Office of the Prime Minister Department of Meteorology and ensure districts have climate adaptation plans in place as well as climate change budget.

l  At policy and legal levels, we advocate for implementation of National adaptation program of action (NAPA) as well as customizing of the NAPA into (DAPA) District Adaptation program of Action so that the national actions are addressing the districts community specific needs. 

l  We continue to engage on the review and track implementation as well as document setbacks, progress, achievements in climate policy and financing at regional, national and sub national levels as to guide response to climate change. 

We engage with the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change, District interfaith and political working group on Climate Change, strengthen its capacity, create awareness amongst legislators about climate change in Uganda.

l  Support the formation of District climate change & disasters committee so that they are able to advance climate change issues at district / sub national level and guide corrective actions that will be implemented both for adaptation to and mitigation against the effects of climate change.

l  We are also carrying out integrated Family planning and climate change mobile campaigns by use of WUFBON outreach van and Ekyoto outreaches to disseminate information and learning on climate change among the community members from village to village, trading Centre to trading center.

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR: 

With support from 128 collective through Panaroma Global, we exited to report that we are reaching out to men, youth and religious leaders as champions of climate change. Since September 2022 quick wins have been registered. 

A study on climate change adaptation in lower local government institutions. A case study compiled on SRHR and Climate change in Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and Kamwenge districts, 

Validation of scoping studies done in both three districts and district specific action plans developed to mitigate impact of climate change, Commitment from district local government to allocate budget for climate change in the district budget for the year 2023/2024 and religious institutions have committed to utilizing their spaces to communicate about climate change as well as utilize their religious institution’s lands for greening ‘’ afforestation.’’