Elders to perform rain dance as severe drought grips Amolatar

4 September 2026, 11:10 am

By Odur Alphonce

Elders in Kabangala Parish, Muntu Subcounty, Amolatar District, have resolved to perform a traditional rain dance today, Friday, following a severe one-month drought that has affected the area.

Speaking to our reporter yesterday evening, Mr Ocen Andrew, a UPDF soldier and local resident, confirmed that the ritual would be conducted in coordination with a group of elders.

According to Ocen, Kabangala Parish has two distinct rocks or ancient metallic structures that hold deep cultural significance.

He said that in the past, whenever the area experienced severe drought, elders would visit the sacred sites to perform rituals believed to bring rain.

However, the tradition faces challenges in the modern era.

Ocen revealed that one of the important cultural water pots at the site was recently stolen. Despite the theft, he said the ritual would proceed as planned.

Following the rain dance, the elders plan to visit the site and ritually turn over one of the remaining rocks, an action they believe can trigger rainfall.

Ocen called on the entire Amolatar community to join hands with the elders in preserving the traditional rain-making practices, emphasising the need to protect the cultural traditions before they disappear.

He further noted that the theft of cultural artefacts had become increasingly common in the area, which he said was a form of desecration and a contributing factor to the prolonged drought.

The community’s turn to traditional intervention comes amid what residents describe as a failure of modern weather forecasting.

The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) had predicted at the beginning of August that the area would receive consistent rainfall throughout August and September.

However, residents say the area has received little or no rainfall, leaving crops in gardens severely affected and raising fears of food insecurity across the subcounty.