Kalungu district steps up in Greater Masaka’s fight against climate change

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OPINION

By Rtn Susan Namata

Kalungu District, like much of rural Uganda, is standing on the frontlines of a slow but sure storm: climate change. Once known for its dependable rains and fertile fields, Kalungu now grapples with longer dry spells, unpredictable flooding, shrinking harvests, and an emerging health crisis.

In parishes like Bulwadda and Bukulula, heavy floods have washed away gardens, eroded roads, and submerged homes, leaving families displaced and struggling to rebuild. Villages in Kibinge and Lukaya face chronic water shortages, where boreholes dry up for months, forcing women and children to walk long distances in search of water.

At the lakeside communities of Kalungu, especially around Kamuwunga landing site along Lake Victoria, Fishermen now struggle with uncertainty about their next catch, leading to both economic losses and increased malnutrition.

Floodwaters carry diseases. Dry spells breed water shortages. Clinics report rising cases of diarrhoea, typhoid, and malaria, especially among children. Climate change is not just destroying farms; it is invading our bodies and homes.

But what if the answer to Kalungu’s climate woes isn’t just within Kalungu’s borders? What if true resilience lies in joining forces across the Greater Masaka region?

Today, we propose a fresh strategy, transboundary collaboration among the districts of Greater Masaka: Kalungu, Masaka City, Lwengo, Sembabule, Rakai, Kyotera, Bukomansimbi, and others to collectively combat climate change.

Drawing on the classic Theory of Comparative Advantage, districts must specialise in climate actions they are best equipped to deliver.

Some districts, like Masaka City and Kyotera, already boast stronger financial bases, better access to media, and institutions capable of running youth education programs. They should lead public awareness efforts, fund campaigns in schools, churches, markets, and on the radio about climate-smart agriculture, clean water practices, tree planting, and climate-related health risks. Young people must be at the heart of this movement: educated, empowered, and inspired.

Meanwhile, rural districts like Kalungu, Lwengo, and Bukomansimbi, blessed with expanses of land, should specialise in climate-smart agriculture and reforestation. Instead of merely planting trees for shade, communities could focus on economically beneficial trees like coffee, mangoes, and avocados. The collaboration with community leaders and churches in Kalungu is proving powerful. These trees not only fight climate change by absorbing carbon but also lift families out of poverty and improve nutrition, boosting community health.

Other districts, such as Sembabule and Rakai, could build youth platforms, regional hubs where young people learn, innovate, and lead environmental and health action. From debates and hackathons to tree-planting marathons and clean water initiatives, youth platforms would transform environmental conservation and public health from overwhelmed government programs into vibrant youth-led movements.

Most urgently, districts must commit to stopping indiscriminate tree cutting. Charcoal production, uncontrolled clearing for farming, and illegal logging must be addressed through coordinated policies, shared patrols, and incentives for sustainable land management. Forests protect not only rainfall but also prevent water sources from contamination, a critical link to protecting public health.

Climate change knows no boundaries. Rivers cross all our districts. Rain clouds float freely. Droughts stretch across the Greater Masaka districts. Disease outbreaks follow water and food shortages. To win against climate change, Greater Masaka must move as one: one strategy, many strengths.

Imagine a Kalungu where every borehole in Kibinge Parish runs with clean water. A Lwengo where coffee plantations thrive under thick canopies. A Masaka City where businesses thrive, but with a lifelong commitment to heal the earth and protect public health.

The time for transboundary action is now, and Kalungu can be at the heart of it.

The writer is Climate Action Network Envoy