GULU, Uganda (PAMACC News) - Massive animal translocation is taking place in Northern Uganda as hundreds of nomadic pastoralists comply with a presidential decree evicting them from the region. On October 20th last year, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni directed the ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries to evict the nomads from northern Uganda for among others interfering with food security of the people of northern Uganda. The President also wrote that the nomads threaten the peace of the north and the economy by practicing obsolete farming method. He tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and fisheries to introduce the nomads to sedentary forms of agriculture, paddocking and coffee growing. The presidential decree followed repeated calls for eviction by host communities who accused the nomads of grazing their livestock in their subsistence farms after failing to fence off their hired pieces of land. Other accusations include sexual harassment of women, engaging in illegal charcoal business, theft of animals and illegal possession of firearms as well as land grabbing amongst others. At least twenty trucks laden with cows belonging to the Balaalo leave the region for Central and South Western Uganda where the pastoralists initially lived with their animals since the ministry of agriculture started implementing the decree on March 22nd. The decree affects more than 40,000 herds of cattle in the hands of more than 30 groups of nomads estimated to number some 15,000 people. Edward Kamgaene, a pastoralist herding 200 cows in a rented area of Amuru district says government is not being fair to them by asking them to leave the north of the country within just few days.“Government has been shifting the goal post all along. Initially we were told to fence our grazing land and stay. But today, we are being told to process movement permits, vaccinate our animals and leave. This is totally a different thing we were told to do earlier. How can this possible within a short time we have been given?” Kamagaene said with anger in his face. Kamgaene says his livelihoods depend on pastoralism in which he fattens animals before selling them to abattoirs in Capital Kampala. He is worried that he will not be able to fend for his family without practicing pastoralism. Kamagaene is one of the thousands of nomads who fled acute shortage of pastures and water in 2016 from South Western Uganda migrating up north to fatten his livestock in vast open savannah grassland inhabited by the Acholi and Lango ethnic groups. He says he is stuck with his livestock after learning that his home district is under quarantine due to Foot and Mouth disease. “I have 100 cows in Nwoya district which I should move to Kyankwanzi district via the districts of Nakasongola and Nakaseke and yet these districts are under quarantine for Foot and Mouth disease. How can I go to these districts to pick movement permits without infecting my animals? How can I take my animals where there is a running quarantine?” Festus…

PAMACC News - 22 mars, elles ne connaissent pas. Ce qui les préoccupe surtout, c’est la corvée d’eau et celle du bois sans laquelle le repas n’est pas prêt le soir. Le risque que le père de famille se fâche si ça arrive est grand. Des préoccupations, bien loin des fronfrons de la fête de la Journée mondiale de l’eau, célébrée à Cotonou. Il est 17heures à Torio, un village de l’arrondissement de Bogobogo, dans la commune de Banikoara. C’est habituellement l’heure où il faut remplir les jarres d’eau pour l’usage le soir. Une partie des femmes de ce village, tous âges confondus ont rendez-vous pour la corvée journalière de l’eau. Réunies autour d’un puits à grand diamètre, elles sont une dizaine à se relayer pour aller chercher au fond le précieux liquide, qui présente l’aspect d’une eau potable. Deux seaux attachés à deux cordes différentes permettent de faire l’exercice. Le liquide, une fois retiré est versé dans des bassines immédiatement convoyés à la maison par les plus petites femmes. Elles font ce va-et-vient plusieurs fois de suite en fonction des besoins. Quid de la qualité de l’eau Nomma Abdul Wahab, le Chef d’étude à la Mairie de Banikoara, doute, quand-même de la qualité de cette eau. Pour l’intéressé, ces genres de puits à grand diamètre sont légions dans la commune mais pour chacun d’eux, aucune étude n’a été faite pour la potabilité de cette eau. Il déplore la résistance de certaines femmes à utiliser l’eau des forages dont il certifie la qualité parce que leur mise en fonction est précédée de quelques études techniques. Il y a aujourd’hui dans la commune de Banikoara quatre-vingt-quatre forages pour près de douze mille habitants. Pas de justice en matière d’eau Si les femmes, comme d’habitude, n’ont pas voulu s’exprimer, c’est Djibril Amidou, un garçon, la trentaine qui prend leur défense. Au forage, souligne-t-il, la bassine est à cinq (5) francs ou vous payez cent (100) francs pour tout le mois pour avoir accès à cette eau, de l’argent dont ne disposent pas ces femmes, explique Djibril. Or, au puits à grand diamètre, l’eau est gratuite.A une vingtaine de mètres du puits à grand diamètre, justement, se dresse un forage autour duquel est réunie l’autre partie des femmes, celles qui ont les cinq (5) FCFA pour la bassine d’eau. Ici, l’or bleu est pompé. C’est moins pénible que de l’autre côté du puits à grand diamètre, en plus, à ciel ouvert où le risque d’accident est souvent grand. Qui s’en plaindrait ?

LAIKIPIA, Kenya (PAMACC News) - Two years ago, the global community drafted what is now known as the ‘Paris Agreement on climate change,’ which seeks for international interventions to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C.But according to a new study conducted in all Kenya’s 21 semi arid land counties, at least five of them have already surpassed the 1.5 °C mark, and the impact especially on cattle survival is devastating. The most worrying part of the study is the projections, which show that the temperatures are going t rise even further in the coming years.This comes just four years after the World Bank released a report synthesising scientific knowledge on global warming, which warned that the earth was on a path to a 4oC warmer by the end of the century - with huge implications for humanity. According to the new study commissioned by the Canada based International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) – through a project known as Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE), West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet are the most affected counties with temperature rise of 1.91oC in the past 50 years. Others include Turkana (1.8oC), Baringo (1.8oC), Laikipia (1.59oC) and Narok (1.75oC). The most startling fact is that the study also found out that the overall population of cattle in all the 21 semi arid land counties has decreased by more than 26 % in the past 38 years, and the scientists who carried out the study are attributing this to the constantly rising temperatures due to global warming, and reduced or unpredictable rainfall patterns.So far, Turkana County is the most affected in terms of cattle population reduction, recording a drop of near 60 % in the past 38 years ending 2015, followed by Machakos, Garissa, Kitui and Kajiado counties according to the study conducted by scientists from Kenya Markets Trust (KMT). This is bad news particularly for Turkana, Garissa and Kajiado because livestock is the main source of livelihoods for residents in those counties.However, all is not lost. While the cattle population was on the decline, sheep and goats’ overall population in the 21 semi arid counties increased by 76.3% during the same period, with some counties like Laikipia and Lamu recording 256.6% and 458% increase respectively.According to the scientists, cattle can thrive well if the temperatures do not surpass 30oC and not below 10oC. But small animals like sheep and goats, and also camels can tolerate warmer temperatures, hence the reason why they were able to multiply exponentially in the wake of the rising temperatures. These findings should therefore be a wake-up call for all counties. They should use such scientific information to reevaluate what is happening in terms of rising temperatures and rainfall variations and the projections in the next few years in order to come up with sound policies that are responsive to…

ACCRA, Ghana (PAMACC News) - Long-term climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather and climate events. In Ghana, some regions have unexpectedly experienced incessant downpour in the month of March. Yet heatwaves abound throughout the countrol. Heavy rains and heatwaves are among hazards faced by the ever-growing global population.With urbanization and the spread of megacities, communities are exposed and vulnerable.And people get worried.In a WhatsApp group discussion, a lady quizzed: “Why does it rain only at night these days?”Her question attracted a quick explanation in meteorology and climatology that “it rains mostly in the night because air is generally cooler at night, and cool air holds less moisture than warm air resulting in rainfall”.But a socio-emotional explanation of the weather trend was sought after than the scientific account – the questioner was much worried at the lonely cold nights she has had to bear as a spinster.And the sensually sexual reactions to the lady’s question were as intriguing as the unexpected changes in the weather condition.“For smooth facilitation of reproduction,” one retorted in response to the question.Another member on the platform also stated that “it is good for those of us who can’t afford air conditioning and its attendant electricity bills to enjoy cool weather”.The group chat exposed the comfort and discomfort of extreme increases in environmental temperature.Hot Discomforting BreezeBarely a fortnight before the rains set in, many a family suffered heat waves day and night.Social media had been agog with a circular cautioning an unbearable heat during daytime and at night.“This is as a result of heat waves stemming from the emission of greenhouse gases. Experts have warned us to prepare for more hot days and warm nights. This preparation will require smart adaptation strategies and engaging in climate resilient practices to cope with the damage that has been done,” said the unknown author of the circular.It was therefore welcoming when the rains arrived after a long dry spell of heatwaves that cut deep into the skin.Kojo and her partner enjoyed a soothing night sleep after an evening’s downpour.“Now I can put my legs on my wife,” he exclaimed.Apparently, intimacy between the couple had been strained by the heat waves. The two could hardly stay in bed at night; their romantic intimacy of cuddling suffered in the hands of discomforting night sweat under the hot breeze.“It gets irritating to go skin-to-skin when you and your partner are already drowning in sweat. Even late night cold showers don’t help matters,” said Kojo. “How can you be on heat when you’re already on fire?”Persistent extreme weather eventsAs soothing as it may have been, the first rains in the year 2018 left Ghana’s capital city flooded.Up north in Tamale, the heat waves remained unbearable even before Midday.New research by scientists at Stanford University predicts extreme weather events are set to occur more frequently, even if the central goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement to limit the global temperatures rise to well under 2°C is met.The researchers analyzed…