In Uganda, climate change-related disasters, including floods, landslides, windstorms, and hailstorms, account for over 70% of natural disasters, destroying an average of 800,000 hectares of crops and resulting in economic losses exceeding UGX 120 billion annually.
Kasese District Local Government, in partnership with Reproductive Health Uganda and support from Sex and SamFund—the Danish Family Planning Association—has announced an ambitious 10-year Climate Change Action Adaptation Plan aimed at increasing the resilience of communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The plan is grounded in an extensive stakeholder-driven consultation process, incorporating in-depth analysis and improved data to enhance its ambition. In Uganda, climate change-related disasters, including floods, landslides, windstorms, and hailstorms, account for over 70% of natural disasters, destroying an average of 800,000 hectares of crops and resulting in economic losses exceeding UGX 120 billion annually.
Kasese has been particularly susceptible to these disasters in recent decades, leading to loss of life and destruction of property. Adam Spaare Spliid, the Danish Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, notes that Kasese was selected for this plan due to the recurring natural disasters that have severely impacted the socio-economic lives of its residents. He added that this plan is one of only three being implemented across Uganda.
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Annet Kyarimpa, the acting director of Programs at Reproductive Health Uganda, emphasized that the plan also addresses critical elements such as reproductive health rights and violence against children, women, men, and youth. She highlighted the often-overlooked physical needs during disasters. Kasese District LCV chairperson Eliphazi Muhindi called for greater community involvement in the program's implementation to ensure its success and sustainability.
Basaija is a graduate of Uganda Christian University (UCU-Mukono) holding a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication.
He is a currently pursuing a fellowship in Gender Communications at Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications Nairobi, Kenya and expected to graduate in 2025.
He also boosts of numerous training's in the journalism arena.
Before joining URN, he had served as documentation support personnel, radio presenter and a news editor.
