Kasese residents told to remain on high alert as the rainy season set in

31 March 2026, 12:04 pm

By Yoweri Kaguta

Marc 30^th, 2026

Kasese: The 2026 climate outlook indicates a continuation of high global temperatures, likely making it one of the hottest years on record.

Kasese district with 44 lower local governments is experiencing showers in several places, locals especially those staying on high altitude have been told to remain on high alert as water levels of several rivers streaming from Rwenzori Mountains continue to rise sharply, raising fears of possible flooding.

Mid-March this year has seen water levels of rivers including Nyamwamba, Nyamughasana, Mubuku, Sebwe, and Thako all rising. In some areas, the fast rising water is already eroding river banks and threatening the nearby homes.

Mr. Emmanuel Katuramu, a Community Leader confirmed to this Environmental Reporter that Kyondo, Majengo and parts of Kihara in Nyamwamba Division of Kasese Municipality, residents are living in total fear of a repeat of floods.

“Rain started pondering this area last week, my family and the entire village of more than 2500 people, we are living in total fear” , He said.

Kasese has for the last past 13 years been witnessing unprecedented weather conditions according to several seasonal Climate Weather Forecast outlooks over Uganda.

The locals in the district are now used to the idea that at least every month of May, floods and landslides must occur and end up destroying investments like schools, bridges, crop gardens and roads yet all are achieved at huge cost.

Uganda experiences two major rainfall seasons, namely; March-April-May [MAM] and September-October-November-December [SONDE] as the first and second rainy seasons respectively.

Overall, the MAM 2026 rainfall forecast indicates that most parts of the country are expected to receive near average rainfall. In western region, Kasese lies under the Southern region. The seasonal rainfall onset has already been established.

The peak of the rainfall season is expected between early and late April, with cessation expected towards late May.

The region is expected to receive near normal, with an increased likelihood of above normal rainfall during this season.

In Kanyangeya Village, a house collapsed during a heavy downpour, leaving a seven-year-old boy with minor leg injuries. A similar incident has already happened in Kaghema village in Kyarumba sub-county, Bukonzo County East. A permanent house belonging to Naume Nyakagumba was destroyed following a heavy downpour on Wednesday March 25^th, 2026.

Now, Mr. Mustafa Kikusa, the Chairperson of Kasese District Disaster Management Committee advised residents to stay away from river valleys and low-lying areas

Early warning systems indicate drastic rises in rivers such as Nyamwamba and Mubuku, and we are urging residents living adjacent to riverbanks to evacuate for their own safety’, He said.

Mr. Joseph Singoma, the Kasese District Senior Planner explained that the district requires 86 billion shillings to manage the post recovery plan drafted by the district.

According to Singoma, the money increased from 65 billion shillings that was required by the district to finance the 2020 disasters that hit the district severely.

On February 18^th, 2026, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development revealed that the government of Uganda will require at least $28.7 billion [about shillings 99 trillion] over the next seven years to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The message was revealed by Dennis Mugagga, the Head of the Climate Finance Unit at the Finance Ministry during the first African Symposium on Natural Capital Accounting and Climate Sensitive Macroeconomic modelling.

The Symposium which was hosted by Makerere University in Kampala aimed at strengthening Africa’s capacity to integrate climate and nature related risks into macroeconomic and fiscal policy.

Uganda already has the country’s Nationally Determined contribution framework outlining actions required to reduce greenhouse gas emission and strengthen resilience.

Mr. Mugagga explained that climate related investments are split between mitigation, which focuses on reducing emissions and adaptations which helps communities cope with climate shocks such as draughts, floods and heat waves.

Government currently invests about $2.1billion annually across sectors such as energy, water, agriculture and infrastructure. But this leaves a substantial annual financing gap of nearly $2 billion.