Climate Talk Uganda With Josephine Karungi

As COP30 gets up to speed we're joined by Jackson Muhindo Rukara of OXFAM Uganda. Before he leaves for Belem on Friday 14th he gives us a rundown on the priorities for OXFAM and other African countries. With an over-arching emphasis on payments for loss and damage, he identifies the key objectives that can make this happen. Despite the difficluties, he's excited and optimistic about the possiblity for positive outcomes, and gives us a few examples of work now underway in Uganda as a result of previous COP meetings. You can find a rundown of OXFAM's events and partner events here: https://www.oxfam.org/en/oxfam-and-partners-cop30-featured-and-parallel-events Climate Action Network Uganda which Jasckon spoke about is here: https://can.ug/ And here's the official page for COP30: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop30 Keep an eye out for our ongoing episodes from COP over the next couple of weeks, and drop us a line anytime. climatetalkpod@gmail.com is where you'll find us. Thanks, and see you soon.

The first of a series of special episodes on the UN Conference of Parties in Brazil - COP30 - the world's biggest climate shindig. I mean conference. In this first episode we hear three perspectives on what it's like to go to a COP (70,000+ people went to the one last year in Baku...that's a lot of sandwiches...), what goes on there and why it matters. Dr Francis Mwesigye is a Chief Economist at Uganda Development Bank; Andrew Aijuka is a journalist and multimedia producer with InfoNile; and Peninah Atwine of Environment Alert represents the collective interests of Ugandan civil society groups. Together they begin to paint a picture for us of this extraordinary annual gathering of world leaders, thought leaders and innovators; governments and non-governmental organisations; lobbyists, academics, chancers and pretty much every other specialism you can think of. You can find out more about the Uganda Development Bank here: https://www.udbl.co.ug/ Peninah Atwine is a Program Office for Environment Alert - you can find out more about that organisation's work here: https://envalert.org Thanks to our guests on this episode - do get in touch if there's something to do with COP that you've always wanted to ask. climatetalkpod@gmail.com And thanks. See you next time.

A conversation about a report from the World Bank might not be your idea of a fun time. But as Cyril Desponts explains, the Uganda Country Climate and Development Report is fascinating, and a significant step on the journey towards a climate resilient future for the country. It's a journey that's already underway and, as this conversation reveals, it touches on every aspect of Ugandan society from economics to agriculture, infrastructure to education, health to innovation. This is an epic take on where we're at and where we're going. You can find the report itself here. Weirdly, at this point it seem that it's only avalable in English. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099062825014052486 Our heartfelt thanks to Cyril Desponts, Senior Economist at The World Bank. And thanks to you for listening. As ever, drop us a line if you'd like us to focus on something climate change related that's important to you. Our email, climatetalkpod@gmail.com See you next time. JK.

Veteran journalist Samuel Ssettumba explains why informed, dedicated climate change coverage matters in 2025. The Nation Media Group now has a dedicated Climate Change Desk. He gives us an inside perspective on why that's a huge step forward for Uganda: making climate change reporting a priority and explaining it in ways that will make sense to Ugandans as they think about their everyday lives. We talk about the impacts of climate change on people and how they live; communicating those impacts to different communities; and presenting complex issues in ways that show that climate change is not abstract - it's about people: 'My mother, my grandfather.' The Nation Media Group's Climate Change Desk was established in partnership with the parent organisation of this podcast, the Climate Smart Jobs Project. You can find out more about the Nation Media Group here: https://www.nationmedia.com/ And you can find the Climate Smart Jobs project here: https://csj.co.ug/ Thanks so much to Samual Ssettumba for joining us for this episode. Drop us a line any time at climatetalkpod@gmail.com And we'll see you next time.

Amayiko Martin's three part documentary aired on Radio Simba. It's called 'Sub-counties are in tears - assailants destroyed over 300 hectares of Nkambwe Forest.' He joins us on Climate Talk Uganda to talk about the story of the destruction and restoration of the forest, how communities reacted to his documentary, and how it feels to win such a high profile award for his work. It's a fascinating glimpse of the commitment it takes to report well on climate change and respect the communities you work with. You can fnd out more about the other Uganda National Journalism Award winners here: https://acme-ug.org/2025/05/29/uganda-national-journalism-awards-2025-meet-the-winners/ As always, thanks to all of you for listening - if you'd like to drop us a line please do: climatetalkpod@gmail.com is where you'll find us.

On July 1st 2025 USAID officially shut down. For many countries around the world it represents a massive blow to a range of development programmes covering everything from health, agriculture and education to governance and climate change mitigation. In today's compelling episode, Robert Bagyenda joins us to share his insights into the likely consequences of this change. At the time of USAID's closure Robert was the team leader for the Environment Climate and Engineering Unit. Here you can fiind a report published in The Lancet in 2025 forecasting that the closure of USAID could lead to the deaths of as many as 14,000,000 people. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01186-9/fulltext And you can find the shuttered USAID website here - https://www.usaid.gov/

The 23rd to the 31st July 2025 saw the 15th meeting of the Conference on Wetlands in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The Wetlands COP15's theme was "Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future," and today's guest was one of Uganda's representatives. Asadhu Ssebyoto is a Senior Wetlands Officer in the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment. And to say he's a man with a passion for wetland preservation would be an understatement: to use his own words, it's a subject he eats, drinks and sleeps. In this episode he talks us through the common types of wetlands found in Uganda, how we should understand their importance, and why long term preservation is only possible when the livelihoods of local communities are taken into account. You can find out more about the Wetlands COP15 here: https://www.wetlandscop15.gov.zw/ Thanks as always to our guest, Asadhu Ssebyoto, and thanks to you for listening.

In this in-depth interview, Pauline Nantongo Kalunda talks to us about her own personal and professional growth. She has moved from being a scientist with a specialist interest in insects to entreprenurial activism and passionate advocacy for smallholding communities. She details the workings of the ECOTRUST model of incentivising environmentally sustainable practices, and offers many other fascinating insights along the way. Pauline is the Executive Director of the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda: ECOTRUST. You can find out more about their work here: https://ecotrust.or.ug/about-us/ This interview was recorded in August 2024.

Where to start with this amazing episode? Clarity, insight and perspective from Dr. John Bosco Isunju, of Makerere University, on the hazards we face as humans in the face of climate change, and the unique challenges that will shape the future of life in Uganda. Dr. John Bosco Isunju brings a formidable depth of knowledge to these subjects, having worked across many areas of public health from environmental pollution, geospatial health, disaster risk reduction, and infection prevention to issues around occupational safety and health, and safe water and sanitation. And many other points in between. Dr. Isunju recently led the Climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment and development of Uganda's Health National Adaptation Plan. He is a member of the WHO Global Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health. At Makerere University, he is a cluster lead of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)’s Nature-Based Solutions cluster for climate change adaptation. He is a member of the Editorial Board for the Makerere University Press. He also serves on the Grants and Research Capacity Building Committee and is the Secretary for the MakSPH Research and Ethics Committee. He is a Focal Person for the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa, where he also serves on the Board of Management. As always, thanks to all of you for listening - if you'd like to drop us a line please do: climatetalkpod@gmail.com is where you'll find us.

This week we're turning our attention back to some of the broader questions around health and climate change. Crispus Mwemaho has a background in health services, and he's co-founder with Ivan Rwomukitomaof the Abayuuti Climate Action Network. He joined me in the studio last week to talk about the work the Abayuuti Climate Action Network does with people who have been displaced by flooding in Uganda. But first, I asked Crispus Mwemaho what inspired him to focus on the ways climate change, climate mobility, and health intersect. You can find out more about the Abayuuti Climate Action Network here: https://www.abayuuti.org/ Kampala Climate Cafe on Instagram: @kampalaclimatecafe And you can find a fascinating article on mental health and climate displacement written by Crispus Mwemaho here: Displaced and Distressed: Uncovering the Mental Impacts of Climate Displacement in Uganda (https://eastandhornofafrica.iom.int/blogs/displaced-and-distressed-uncovering-mental-impacts-climate-displacement-uganda)

This is a timely and profound exploration of the strategies, passions and frustrations of environmental activism over a long period of time. Founded in 1983, Joint Energy Environment Projects exists to promote efficient use of natural resources and prevent the destruction of forests. Forty years after its founding, how does the CEO, Ruth Kiwanuka, reflect on her experiences; the progress that has been made; and the challenges that remain? You can hear Ruth Kiwanuka speak about Joint Energy Environment Projects in this video from 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0QUZwRK3ro And you can find out more about the work of JEEP and its partners here: https://jeepfolkecenter.org/about/ As always, thanks for listening, and drop us a line any time: climatetalkpod@gmail.com

How do you prepare for outbreaks of malaria if climate change means that mosquitoes which spread the disease are thriving in areas that were previously off limits? When it comes to public health, climate change makes a tricky situation even more difficult. In this episode Dr Muganzi David Jolly and Dr Ian Clarke discuss how AI might play a role in helpiing Uganda meet this challenge. Dr Muganzi David Jolly is the Health Innovation Hub manager at Clarke International University here in Kampala. Dr Ian Clarke is an Irish-born doctor, entrpreneur, and coffee farmer. In this wide-ranging conversation we touch on many aspects of the healthcare landscape in Uganda, and the idea that climate change can be a driving force for innovation. You can find out more about Clarke International University here: https://ciu.ac.ug/?s5responsiveswitch_wwwihsuacug=0 And you can find a brief profile of Dr Muganzi David Jolly here: https://wayforwardyouth.org/muganzi_david And as always, if you'd like to get in touch, climatetalkpod@gmail.com is where you'll find us.

Janet Kantalama Kantana joins Josephine to talk about how we can understand mental health challenges in the age of climate change. We explore how our inner wellbeing is affected when day to day life is disrupted by intense or unpredictable weather events. And we talk about measures we can take - individually and collectively - to make sure we are mentally resilient in those circumstances. Janet Kantalama Kantana is a psychologist and Executive Director of Safe Places Uganda. It's a private facility helping people deal with mental health issues and addiction. You can find out more about Safe Places here: https://safeplacesuganda.com/about-us/

Surges in malaria and other diseases; damage to clinics and other physical infrastructure; decreased access to immunisation and mental health services; illnesses due to increased heat and humidity; declining maternal and child health outcomes. These are just some of the health related impacts of climate change. In the first in a series of episodes focusing on health, Dr Didacus B. Namanya explains how the government of Uganda monitors these public health impacts, and is working on adaptation strategies for the future. Dr Didacus B. Namanya (MSc., PhD. Public Health) is a geographer and is Focal Point (Climate Change and Health, and GIS) for the Ministry of Health in the Government of Uganda. You can find the Health National Adaptation Plan - which Dr Didacus Namanya talks about - here: https://library.health.go.ug/environmental-health/climate-change/health-national-adaptation-plan-h-nap

Over the past few weeks we've been exploring fluctuations in the price of food and other commodities like coffee and cocoa. In this episode we're taking a step back and revisiting the causes of climate change, the need for adaptation, and the importance of integrated policy approaches from government. Our guest is Anthony Kagoro, who is a Climate Change Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Uganda.

Tracing the connections between the price of the food you put on your table, global commodity markets, local conditions and climate change is incredibly complex. Today we have probably Uganda's most important expert in the field joing us. Professor Bernard Bashaasha is Professor of Agricultural and Development Economics at Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences‬. He has many years of experience analysing agriculture in Uganda and what makes it tick. And he shares his understandings with us in this episode.

Matoke! Irish potatoes! Mangoes! What more could you want? The on-the-ground impacts of price fluctuations on these foods are felt day to day and season to season by traders in the markets around Kampala. William Ssekiranda speaks to three traders at Kalerwe Market about where they source their produce and how price variations affect them.

The price of coffee and many staple foods in Uganda have been rising steeply: good news for sellers (farmers), not so good news for consumers. And these price rises have been attributed to extreme weather due to climate change. In the first of two episodes, Josephine explores this link, and what it means for growing and selling coffee in Uganda and beyond. In our next episode we'll be looking at the price of food staples and attempting to understand the links between local conditions and global markets. It's complicated but utterly fascinating. So don't miss it. This episode was recorded live at One Tribe Coffee Shop at 1 Bugologi Road, Kampala. They're open Monday - Saturday from 7:30am-6pm. Thanks so much to Gail Mawocha and the team there for making us so welcome. And thanks, also, Robert Byaruhanga. You can see what's happening at One Tribe Coffee on their Insta page and website. https://www.instagram.com/onetribe_coffee/ www.onetribecoffee.com And you can find out more about the Uganda Coffee Development Authority here: https://ugandacoffee.go.ug/ Producer: Martin Fowler Sound Recordist: William Ssekiranda

Nicholas Najuna and Namutebi Muniirah are each developing new technologies to deal with aspects of climate change that particularly affect small holder farmers. Nicholas is founder and CEO of Afrotym (https://afrotym.com/products/), developing what they refer to as a 'waterbank' - a natural, biodegradable way of storing moisture within the soil. Namutebi Muniirah is co-founder of Umuntu Agrobiotics (https://umuntuagrobiotics.com/solutions) where her team has been developing Bio-Blend, a low cost microbial solution designed to increase soil productivity. Both guests are beneficiaries of The Uganda Climate Innovation Fund - helping them develop their products and bring them to market. You can find out more about the Climate Innovation Fund here: https://csj.co.ug/page/about-ucif ...and details of what the fund covers here: https://csj.co.ug/page/available-support

Controlling the ripening of fruits and vegetables could be a major step forward in securing incomes for farmer and traders, as well as mitigating the impacts of climate change on the entire production chain. In this episode two traders from Kasubi Market in Kampala talk to WIlliam Ssekiranda about the challenges posed by the perish-ability of the produce they sell. Then we hear from two Ugandan innovators who are developing ways of extending the shelf-life of fresh produce. Annet Diana Nanono and Gift Arnold Mugisha are developing their solutions with support from the Uganda Climate Innovation Fund. You can find out more about their innovations here: You can find out more about the Uganda Climate Innovation Fund here: https://csj.co.ug/page/about-ucif ...and details of what the fund covers here: https://csj.co.ug/page/available-support