Government Flags Food Risk as Rainfall Drops

As Uganda continues to feel the impacts brought about by climate change, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Water and Environment, Dr Alfred Okot Okidi, has encouraged farmers to move away from rainfall dependence and embrace irrigation as a way of sustaining agriculture.

Dr Okidi made the remarks at a press conference held at the Uganda Media Centre, where he addressed the nation on the upcoming weather forecast for June to August 2026, warning that most parts of the country are expected to experience near-normal to below-normal rainfall alongside warmer-than-average temperatures.

The briefing, delivered by the Ministry of Water and Environment through the Department of Meteorological Services, painted a cautious outlook for the season, with officials saying the forecast should be treated as an early warning tool for farmers, policymakers and development actors across key sectors.

According to the Ministry, rainfall during the June–August period will be poorly distributed, with several regions expected to receive only brief and isolated showers in early June before dry conditions become dominant.

Officials attributed the forecast to a mix of global and regional climate drivers, including warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean linked to El Niño tendencies, which often suppress rainfall over East Africa. Other drivers include atmospheric oscillations such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation and shifts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which influence rainfall timing and intensity.

While northern Uganda may experience relatively better rainfall compared to other regions, the overall national outlook remains tilted towards below-normal conditions, raising concern over agricultural production and water availability.

It is against this backdrop of increasing climate uncertainty and declining reliability of seasonal rains that government has stepped up its call for irrigation as a central pillar of Uganda’s agricultural future. Officials say the changing weather patterns leave little room for continued dependence on rainfall, warning that production systems must now be deliberately restructured to secure water for farming throughout the year.

Dr Okot Okidi stressed that irrigation is no longer an optional supplement but a necessary shift in agricultural practice if farmers are to remain productive in the face of climate change.

“The message to farmers is that we need to move away from relying on rainfall as the means of production of water for our production processes. We need to embrace irrigation and ensure we have water storage to be near us,” he said.

He added that rainfall can no longer be relied upon as a stable production input, urging farmers to adopt more controlled and predictable water systems.

“Rainfall can no longer be the guarantee for production. If you are waiting for rain, you are already exposed to risk. Irrigation is what will stabilise production,” he said.

According to him, government is expanding both large-scale irrigation schemes and low-cost, on-farm water solutions to support farmers across the country.

He explained that the Ministry is promoting a mix of technologies ranging from valley tanks, drip irrigation systems, water pans, borehole-supported irrigation and household rainwater harvesting systems.

“Some of these solutions do not require big infrastructure. A farmer can harvest rainwater from rooftops, store it in tanks, and use it for irrigation during dry spells. Even a 10,000 to 20,000 litre tank can sustain small-scale production,” he said.

Dr Okot Okidi added that government is also working with technical agencies to ensure farmers are trained in practical irrigation methods, including low-cost drip systems that can be locally assembled using available materials.

“We are investing in appropriate technology. Farmers must be able to construct and manage their own water systems. We are training them because these solutions must be owned at household level,” he noted.

He further revealed that government equipment is available in some ministries to support water storage development on farms under cost-sharing arrangements.

“On-farm, if you want to do a tank of 10,000 litres or more, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water have equipment. You contribute fuel and small maintenance costs, and you get the service,” he said.

The Ministry warned that the combination of reduced rainfall and rising temperatures will increase evaporation rates, reduce soil moisture, and place additional pressure on crops, livestock and water resources.

Officials noted that wetlands, small reservoirs and household water sources are likely to dry faster than usual, intensifying competition for water in rural communities.

Agriculture experts at the briefing said Uganda’s continued dependence on rain-fed agriculture exposes farmers to repeated losses, especially during seasons like the current outlook where rainfall is below average.

They urged faster adoption of irrigation as a stabilising factor for food production.

In Western Uganda, including the southwestern highlands and lowlands, rainfall is expected to be brief and limited to early June before dry conditions dominate the rest of the season. Similar patterns are expected in the Rwenzori sub-region and central western districts.

In the central region, including Kampala, Wakiso, Masaka and surrounding districts, dry conditions are expected after mid-June, with only isolated showers providing short-term relief.

Eastern Uganda and Mount Elgon regions are expected to experience intermittent rainfall early in the season before transitioning into dry conditions, while northern Uganda is expected to receive slightly better but still below-normal rainfall overall.

Dr Okot Okidi emphasised that irrigation is now central to Uganda’s climate adaptation strategy, noting that government is scaling up both household and community-level systems to reduce vulnerability.

“We must ensure water is near the farmer. Whether it is through irrigation, harvesting or storage, water must not be left to chance,” he said.

He urged farmers to shift mindset from seasonal dependence to controlled production systems, arguing that irrigation provides predictability even in unpredictable climates.

“Those who have embraced irrigation are already seeing the difference. They are not waiting for rain. They are producing throughout the year,” he added.

Government, he said, will continue to support farmers through training, technology transfer and infrastructure development, but stressed that adoption at household level remains critical.

The Ministry called on local governments, development partners and the private sector to integrate irrigation development into agricultural planning, warning that failure to adapt could deepen food insecurity and economic vulnerability.

It also urged the media to amplify early warning messages to ensure farmers act before the dry conditions intensify.

As Uganda heads into the June–August season, officials say the priority is clear: strengthen irrigation, expand water storage, and reduce dependence on increasingly unreliable rainfall patterns.

For now, the government’s message is firm—irrigation is no longer optional, but essential for the future of Uganda’s agriculture.

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