The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) has initiated the construction and installation of an automatic weather station in the Rwenzori Sub-Region.
According to UNMA, the introduction of automatic weather detection machines will enhance the accuracy of data collection crucial for periodic weather forecasts in specific districts and regions.
These machines will record wind movements, rainfall, pressure, air temperature, and radiation. Dr. Alex Bob Ogwang, the Acting Executive Director of UNMA, highlighted during the commissioning of a manual Rain Gauge at Kilembe Mines Hospital in Bulembia Division of Kasese Municipality, that they are seeking funds from development partners to procure and install more machines in disaster-prone areas across the region and the country.
Currently, the Rwenzori sub-region has only five automatic weather detector machines out of the 211 spread nationwide. The rain gauge was procured with funding from the European Union Humanitarian Aid.
Dr. Ogwang emphasized the need for more advanced machines as the authority struggles to gather timely data, given that manual methods only record data once a day. UNMA is undertaking a project aimed at ensuring universal access to early weather warning systems by 2027.
Richard Bomera, the Bulembia Division Chairperson, noted that farmers in the region have been lacking accurate weather information, leading to losses due to unpredictable weather patterns. He expressed optimism that the adoption of such technology would mitigate these losses.
Augustine Muhindo, a sand miner in Bulembia, urged the government to explore solutions for rainwater preservation, enabling farmers and households to utilize it for cultivation purposes.
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