By Janet Moriku

Gulu

Uganda national meteorological authority UNMA and world food program WFP have organized a three days sub national climate outlook forum for West Nile and Acholi sub region for the rainy season of March to May 2023.
The workshop being attended by District technical leaders and other stakeholders is being held at Bomah Hotel in Gulu city from 22 to 24 March 2023.
Mr. Mujuni Godfrey the UNMA representative in his opening remarks, highlighted the objectives and importance of the workshop, adding that UNMA will continue to monitor the evolution of relevant weather systems and issue appropriate updates and warning. "the main objectives of this forum are to provide an interaction platform for decision makers, present feedback on performance and impacts on the September to December seasonal rainfall, present the consensus rainfall seasonal outlook for march April may 2023 season for West Nile and northern Uganda regions. This forecast should be used for planning so as to improve economic welfare and livelihoods of our communities.’’

Ms. Nagujja Stella Sengendo the WFP representative during her opening remarks revealed that instead of just supplying food, they are moving to building lives and livelihoods through climate information.

M.s Stell revealling WFP plans to move to livelihoods

"WFP has been known to give food so that people don’t die, but increasingly we are moving away from that, we want to be known as an institution which saves and builds lives and livelihoods, so we are moving to building lives and livelihoods and climate is one o f those things that impacts livelihoods.” She further noted that they want to improve dissemination of climate information among refugees and host community and contribute to food security at household levels. “We want as WFP to contribute to the following, to provide timely and effective climate information that will increase production and contribute to food security at household level, we want to improve the dissemination and use of climate information among refugees and hosting community districts, we want to also promote the use of energy cooking stoves especially in the refugees areas.” The workshop is themed Early Warning for crisis management and participants recommended that UNMA should offer tips on disaster risk mitigation, integration of services for better climate action and called on the central government to support local governments action plans on climate disasters.

Significance of Weather and climate information.
-Helps in disaster preparedness
-Helps health officials to plan and be prepared to handle disease outbreaks.
-Helps in choice of site for construction and infrastructure development.
-Helps in planning of recreation activities such as events, parties, sports and social ceremonies.
-Data is required to determine generation of energy like hydro power, solar and wins energies.
-Used in economic planning to forecast inflation, food security and economic growth.
-Also, the transport sector highly depends on weather and climate information especially air transport     but also marine and roads.
-Climate and weather information is used in research of disease trends, new crop varieties and others,
-Used by telecommunication companies to erect their installations.

Conclusion
Mr. Bataze James a principal meteorologist at Uganda National Meteorological Authority in his conclusion, called for integration of weather and climate information in all development plans and programs.
He also appealed to the district leaders through extension officers to encourage people to use weather and climate information in planning and decision making.

COVER PHOTO: From L-R Yumbe District CAO Steven Kunya, UNMA representative Godfrey Mujuni and WFP representative Stella Nagujja Senggendo during the opening remarks By Janet Moriku