Beating the Heat: Uganda’s Battle Against the Roasting Sun

By William Lubuulwa

If you have recently found yourself questioning whether Uganda has been sneakily relocated closer to the Sun, you are one of the many. The heatwaves have been brutal. You step outside and feel like a roast chicken in a poorly ventilated oven in Bwaise Kimombasa.

The Sun, once our friendly neighbour, has now turned into an overenthusiastic guest overstaying its welcome. But before we start offering sacrifices to appease the heat gods, let’s talk about real solutions – ones backed by science, data, and, of course, a bit of common sense.

President Yoweri Museveni has, also, felt the wrath of the Kampala heat. In a recent message on X, he asked Ugandans how they were coping with empiita, the scorching heat of the dry season from January to mid-March. He warned that encroaching on wetlands must stop, or Ugandans will regret their actions deeply. If even the President, stationed in the cooler parts of Nakasero, has resorted to cold showers at night, what hope is there for the rest of us sweating through sleepless nights in Kitikifumba or Nateete?

Survival Strategies

One of the most effective ways to cool down our cities is urban greening. Trees are not just for shade; they act as nature’s air conditioners. Research shows that urban forests can reduce temperatures by up to four degrees Celsius. Yet, Kampala’s rapid expansion seems determined to replace every last patch of greenery with more concrete. Look at our homes, and their compounds put together. Instead of laying unending tarmac courtyards and building endless shopping malls, we should be creating green cities such as Singapore, which has successfully incorporated urban forestry into its landscape, cooling the city naturally. If a densely populated island nation can do it, surely Uganda, with its vast land, should have no excuse.

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has been at the forefront of restoring Uganda’s green cover to combat rising temperatures. Through tree-growing campaigns especially during the International Day for Biodiversity and World Environment Day (WED) celebrations, thousands of trees have been planted in different regions across the country. This effort is not just symbolic; it is part of a larger strategy to restore degraded ecosystems and build climate resilience. For example, during previous WED activities, NEMA has led tree-planting initiatives in areas such as Luweero, Buikwe, Masindi and Sironko, reinforcing the importance of reforestation in cooling urban and rural areas alike.

Another major culprit in our overheating crisis is poor building design. Many of our homes and offices feel like ovens by midday, forcing us to rely on energy-guzzling fans and air conditioners. If we invested in smarter architecture, we would realise a huge difference. Experts say that reflective roofing materials, for instance, membranes, shingles, coatings, stone/rock, metal, and tile with high solar reflectance, can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 30 percent, while naturally ventilated designs eliminate the need for artificial cooling altogether. Rwanda’s Green City Kigali project, though still work in progress, is a shining example of how eco-friendly building designs can transform urban spaces. The model provides affordable housing in sustainable and culturally compatible, climate-resilient urban communities. Uganda’s construction industry should embrace similar practices unless we enjoy being slow-cooked in our own homes and offices.

Role of Wetlands

Our wetlands, which act as natural coolants, are being destroyed at an alarming rate. If you have ever walked near a wetland, you will notice it’s significantly cooler than surrounding areas. These ecosystems regulate temperatures, store carbon, and absorb heat. The Lubigi Wetland, which once helped cool parts of Kampala and Wakiso, is continuously under siege from degraders, despite the efforts of NEMA. Yet, countries such as the Netherlands have embraced wetland conservation, using them as climate adaptation tools. Uganda must follow suit before we turn our cities into unbearable heat traps.

NEMA has been actively involving communities in the fight against wetland destruction. Through the recently concluded CBS Wetlands Management Campaign, thousands of Ugandans were sensitized on the importance of wetlands in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. This one-month campaign underscored the urgent need for action. Call-in listeners, many seemingly well informed about the need to conserve wetlands, pledged to protect their local wetlands, recognizing their crucial role in cooling temperatures and sustaining livelihoods.

Lakes and rivers also play a crucial role in keeping temperatures in check. Large water bodies help cool surrounding areas, but we have not treated ours with the respect they deserve. Lake Victoria, our largest freshwater body, is struggling under the weight of pollution and encroachment. Studies show that areas near lakes experience lower temperatures than drier regions such as rural Karamoja, yet we continue to degrade our precious resources. If we wish to avoid turning Uganda into a giant frying pan, we must take stricter measures to protect our water bodies.

Lastly, we cannot ignore the role of emissions in worsening heatwaves. While Uganda’s carbon footprint may not rival that of industrialised nations, we are not entirely blameless. The transport sector alone is a significant contributor to pollution, with thousands of vehicles discharging hot air and fumes daily, throughout the year. We are told that cutting emissions could lower global temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius over time, a difference that would make our heatwaves more bearable. Countries such as Norway have taken drastic steps, with more than 80 percent of new cars being electric! Imagine a Uganda where boda bodas and taxis run on clean energy instead of turning the streets into heat traps.

Uganda at crossroads

We can either take action now or continue melting like candles placed under red-hot charcoal. Urban greening, smarter buildings, wetland conservation, water body protection, and cutting emissions are not just fancy ideas; they are survival strategies. The good news? These are workable ideas. The bad news? If we do nothing, the Sun will continue to roast us mercilessly. As President Museveni has warned, fore-warned is fore-armed. The choice is ours: Are we for a cool shade or a national sunburn?

Mr. Lubuulwa is the Senior Public Relations Officer at NEMA.