The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) anticipates enhanced rainfall over eastern and northern parts of the country.
In an update released on August 3, 2024, UNMA says that enhanced rainfall is expected to occur in the West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja sub regions and Mt. Elgon, Bukedi, and Teso sub regions of the Eastern region.
UNMA says that major physical conditions such as the positioning of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the country, which shifted to the northern hemisphere, the location and intensification of the intra-seasonal variation of the Madden Julian Oscillations (MJO), mountains, inland water bodies, and vegetation cover, among others, are likely to play a significant role in the rainfall distribution.
To these, UNMA warns of expected hazards such as lightning, flash floods, waterlogging, increased pests and diseases, rapid growth of weeds, contamination of water sources due to increased surface runoff, and disruption of traffic flow along transportation routes as some bridges may collapse or be washed away.
The Authority appealed to its stakeholders on a number of practices, including soil and water conservation practices and timely weeding, among others.
In contrast, UNMA says that suppressed rainfall is expected to be experienced in most parts of Southwestern, Central, and Western Uganda.
UNMA says Eastern and Northern Uganda was generally wetter in July. The highest amount of rainfall was recorded in Bulambuli district. Amuria and Moroto were second and third in the highest amount of rainfall received in July 2024. Kibanda, Kasese, and Mbarara received the lowest amount of rainfall.