By: Luganda David Nsiyonna
Kampala, Uganda – August 16, 2025 – Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Department of Meteorological Services, has released its rainfall outlook for August 2025, advising farmers and communities to prepare for contrasting weather patterns across the country. While northern and most parts of the eastern region are expected to receive enhanced rainfall, central, western, and areas near Lake Victoria are projected to experience continued dry conditions until mid-August.
According to the forecast signed by Dr. Bob Alex Ogwang, Commissioner of the Department of Meteorological Services, cold, chilly, and hazy conditions are anticipated to prevail throughout August, particularly in Central and Western Uganda. This aligns with the general pattern where August typically marks a dry season for the Lake Victoria basin, central, western, and some eastern regions. In contrast, Northern and much of Eastern Uganda usually experience a continuation of the rainy season due to the seasonal migration of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) to the northern hemisphere.
The July performance report indicated widespread rainfall across most of the country, attributed to a low-pressure system over eastern and southern Africa. This system drew in moisture-laden air, leading to prolonged heavy rainfall, flash floods, river overflows, and waterlogging in low-lying areas. Gulu station in the North recorded the highest rainfall at 350 mm, followed by Buginyanya station in Bulambuli district (Eastern region) with 325 mm. Mbarara and Kamenyamigo in the Western and Central regions, respectively, recorded the least rainfall, though July still saw enhanced rainfall even in these typically dry areas.
Advisories for communities according to the forecast:
- Over the Central, Western and parts of Eastern regions bordering Central region near Lake Victoria basin, the communities are advised to continue using this period for harvesting their crops and preparing their gardens for the second rainfall season, since June, July and August is a dry season over their regions.
- Northern, West Nile, Karamoja and greater parts of eastern region are advised to use the current rainfall for continued planting of new crops as June, July and August is a rainfall season over their region.
- Soil and water conservation practices (waterways, trenches, stone bands, contour trenches, diversion channels, grass bands) are encouraged to minimize the impact of floods and water logging.
- Early/timely weeding to address the rampant growth of weeds such as nut grass, spear grass, wandering jews, and coach grass which increase the cost of production.
- Stocking of pesticides due to expected increase in pests and disease incidence (bacterial for vegetables and fungal for cereals and vegetables).
- Sensitize and advocate communities to plant trees for firewood and use of energy-saving stoves.
- Advocate for fertilizer use to enhance soil fertility due to the likelihood of Soil erosion in several districts leading to increased leaching of soil nutrients especially in the lowlands.
- Relocating kraals to raised and fresh grounds to manage foot rot due to muddy conditions.
- Local Authorities in Urban Centres are encouraged to clear off clogged water pathways or open up drainage channels to avoid truncation of the roads by turbulent water overflows and over-flooded transport routes particularly in the northern region.
- Water harvesting should be encouraged to increase water availability during dry spells.
- Monitor malaria prevalence and reposition stocks of drugs and routine distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets.
- The continuation of dry weather conditions in southern parts of Uganda will lead to diminishing pastures and water for livestock in the region. Close monitoring is therefore necessary to avert loss of animals.
- Cases of respiratory diseases like asthma, pneumonia and common colds are expected to be on the increase across the country due to the expected reduction in temperatures (cold conditions).
- Visibility may occasionally become poor due to foggy and hazy conditions especially during morning hours. Motorists are cautioned to exercise extra care when driving to avoid accidents.
- The Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Department of Meteorological Services will continue monitoring evolution of relevant weather systems and issue appropriate weather alerts, updates and advisories to the users.
- This outlook should be used together with the 6 hourly, daily, 5-day/city and 10-days forecasts, routinely issued by the Ministry for proper planning and decision making.
