Kampala – Uganda’s production is declining in agriculture, water and energy due to devastating impacts of climate change, according to a global report on climate change compiled by the UN-Inter Governmental Panel. Climate Change is caused by emissions such as carbon dioxide from production processes, which trap heat escaping to the atmosphere thereby causing global warming.

The warming of the earth disrupts rainfall patterns and also melts the ice on mountain tops like the Rwenzori. 

Revocatus Twinomuhangi of Makerere University pointed out that three of quarters of Uganda can grow coffee, but this is going to be restricted to a few highland areas due to climate change effects. Such a scenario will play out if temperatures increase by 2 degrees Centigrade in the coming years, he added.

Maize and tea have also been affected, according to the don, who pointed out that this has been proved by case studies undertaken on the way how climate change is affecting maize, tea and coffee.

"It means big trouble for food security and the economy,” said Twinomuhangi during the release of the fifth IPCC (UN-Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change) report in Kampala last week.

He added that climate change impacts were being felt through rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.