By Patrick Okino
The Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change has assessed the impact of climate change in the Lango sub-region, citing crop failure, infrastructure damage, environmental degradation and destruction of water sources as major threats to livelihoods.
The committee, chaired by Bunya County West MP Aggrey Henry Bagiire, conducted an oversight visit to Otuke, Lira, Dokolo, Alebtong, Apac and Amolatar districts to assess the effects of climate change and the response by local governments.
During a meeting with Lira district technical staff at the district headquarters on Wednesday, the committee noted that climate-related challenges are increasingly affecting households, agriculture, health, trade and infrastructure.
Bagiire commended the government for efforts to address climate change and local governments for implementing measures to mitigate its effects.
However, he said more needs to be done to protect communities from the growing impact of extreme weather events.
In Lira district, Bagiire said the committee found that River Aswa in Erute North had been severely degraded by sand mining for construction, contributing to flooding and soil erosion.
In Apac district, he said Aganga Health Centre III in Ibuje Sub-county had been submerged, while the road connecting the facility had been cut off.
“It has become a swamp and people are facing challenges in accessing services,” Bagiire told journalists after the meeting in Lira.
He said climate change was negatively affecting trade, commerce, agriculture, infrastructure, health and livelihoods, urging district authorities to double their efforts to address the problem.
“There is drought, dry spells and sometimes heavy rainfall, which results in flooding. All these are very bad because they affect our daily livelihoods,” he said.
The District Environment Officer Walter Ocen called for increased climate change financing for local governments, including a dedicated conditional grant for environmental and climate management.
He also urged government to provide adequate resources for wetland demarcation, restoration and protection.
Ocen said the district receives only Sh72 million for the environment sector, which he described as inadequate to implement the numerous activities required to combat climate change.
He further called for logistical and technical support for community environment management committees, expansion of alternative livelihood programmes for communities affected by wetland restoration, and stronger district-level climate and environmental information systems.
Arua Central MP Muzaid Khemis said Lira had performed well in climate change awareness, coordination and monitoring, but noted a gap in vulnerability analysis regarding the effects of climate change.
Dokolo South MP Joseph Jone Ogwal commended the district for developing a climate change action plan but said vulnerability analysis and data on people affected by climate change remained inadequate.
The committee, however, rejected the reports presented by Ocen, citing a lack of sufficient evidence and clear data.
It gave the district one week to revise and resubmit the reports with supporting evidence and comprehensive data.