Effects of climate change on food security in Uganda; a case of Karamoja Sub-region

Abstract

The study focused on climate change and food security in Uganda with a case of Karamoja region. It covered Karamoja region in a 10 years period (2010—2020). It was guided by the following objectives; to establish how the variation in global mean temperatures affects food security in Uganda, to determine how the gradual variations in precipitation have affected food security in Uganda, to explore the effect of extreme weather events on food security in Uganda, and to find out how weather changes affect food security in Uganda. The researcher applied a desk review research design to describe how climate change affects food security in Karamoja region. It was revealed that Karamoja region consists of three livelihood zones i.e. agricultural, agro-pastoral, and pastoral zones as characterized by climatic conditions. Findings also revealed that rainfall volumes ranging from 300mm to 1200mm have grossly affected food production in Karamoja. In the findings, temperature projections for the region revealed an increase of 1.8°C to 2.1°C between 2040—2060. Findings further revealed that precipitation was a key factor exacerbating climate change negatively affecting food security in the region. It was established that since crop farming in Karamoja region is strictly rain-fed, climate change would undesirably limit access, availability, and stability of food. It was recommended that the intergovernmental panel on Climate Change should gather synergies among its stakeholders including governments, NGOs, and Civil Society Organizations to analyze and find solutions to climate change problems concerning the availability, access and stability of food in Karamoja region. It was also recommended that; more valley dams should be constructed; distribution of quick maturing and draught resistant crops, and local communities in Karamoja region should avoid unfriendly practices to climate such as deforestation and setting bush fires among others to safeguard the environment. Conclusively, it emphasized that climate change has affected food security in Karamoja region, thus the need for plausible measures to respond to its effects in order to attain food security.