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Farmers decry dry spell season

27 September 2025, 3:33 pm

Crops losses in Kasese.

By Jonex Babulya

A section of farmers in Kasese Municipality has expressed concern over the prolonged dry spell expected this season.

Ms Annet Musoki and Violet Kyakimwa, small-scale farmers from Central Division, said the current weather conditions—marked by scorching sun and extreme heat—indicate that climate change may not be favourable, raising fears of food insecurity.

The two, who own land in Kahokya Cell in Kasese Municipality, voiced concern over the potential economic strain, having invested heavily in agriculture this season with little hope of a good harvest.

Ms Annet and Ms Violet discuss social protection interventions to boost farming yields.

Mr Asanairi Bukanywa, the Kasese Municipal Agricultural Officer, who sympathised with the farmers, offered some hope by noting that rains are expected next month. However, he advised them to consult agricultural extension officers for guidance on good agronomic practices to help them adapt to the current conditions.

Mr Asanairi urges farmers not to lose hope, saying rains are expected at the beginning of October, and encourages them to carefully select the types of seedlings to grow.

Ms Evelyn Mugume, the Kasese Municipal Environmental Officer, attributed the dry spell not only to the municipality’s location along the Rift Valley floor and the Equator but also to its position on the leeward side. She explained that the area typically receives convectional rainfall, formed when the sun heats water bodies such as Lake George, alongside vegetative processes that generate rainclouds on which many farmers depend.

Ms Mugume explains Kasese’s location on the Rift Valley floor and near the Equator, noting that even when it rains, the area mainly benefits from convectional rainfall generated by natural resources.