Moses Mubangizi, the Bundibugyo District Natural Resources Coordinator, says that the department lacks funds to contribute to the center. He explains that the department is allocated Shillings 600 Million every financial year, which is inadequate.
The climate change centre for Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts is non- functional. The center that is based in Bundibugyo District was established two years ago at Shillings 50 Million by both districts to provide climate change information to rural communities, which are often hit by drought and heavy rains.
The centre was equipped with computers connected to the internet and tasked to build capacities of small holder farmers to cope with climate change, increase climate change awareness and disseminate adaptation practices such as water harvesting.
However, the climate center has remained non-operational for close to a year even as farmers continue to be affected by climate change. Enock Musinguzi, the Coordinator Climate Change Centre, says they were compelled to halt their operations despite the enormous need in the community due to lack of funds.
He explains that Ntoroko and Bundibugyo failed to honor their pledge of remitting funds to the unit. According to Musinguzi, they have written to the Climate Change Unit department in the Ministry of Water and Environment requesting for assistance.
Geoffrey Magezi, the chairperson of farmers in Ntoroko district, says that many times communities have been asked to adapt to climate change by word of mouth without practical solutions. He explains that there was hope that the unit would give communities new ideas that will enable them adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.
Magezi adds that the community needs information on irrigation and how to locally make energy saving stoves to reduce excessive consumption of firewood
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Moses Mubangizi, the Bundibugyo District Natural Resources Coordinator, says that the department lacks funds to contribute to the center. He explains that the department is allocated Shillings 600 Million every financial year, which is inadequate.
He adds that without clear information on climate change, it will be hard for communities to survive the existing effects of climate change.
Last year, during the 4th Rwenzori Region Climate Change Week,local leaders in the region petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga about the need to increase the budgetary allocation to agriculture to 10%, natural resources and environment sectors by 5%, since they are key to adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
