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U
ganda’s rainfall and climatic patterns are
influenced by variations in altitude, the Inter-
Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and the
air currents such as the South-East and North-East
monsoons. In general, most parts of the country
experience fairly well marked rainy and dry seasons.
Furthermore, in areas adjacent to large water bodies
such as Lake Victoria, maritime conditions tend to
modify climate while in mountainous and highlands,
climate is modified orographically (relief). The rainfall
amounts vary over the country’s regions.
Areas around Lake Victoria receive the highest annual
rainfall averages of between 1200-2000 mm. The
Karamoja region in the north-eastern part of the country
is characterized by an intense hot and dry season lasting
from November to March. This is followed by a single rain
reason that begins from April and ends around August.
This region receives the lowest average annual rainfall in
the range of 300-625 mm. The rainfall peaks in May and
July while the driest months are December and January
that are characterized by extensive burning of the
dominantly shrub vegetation. In the western region the
mean annual rainfall is between 875-1000 mm. However,
on the higher plateaus of the region, the rainfall is over
1250 mm.
Uganda is divided into the following six climatic zones,
mainly based on rainfall patterns (Figure 4).
Climate disaster: Cattle trapped in a flooded Teso seasonal wetland after heavy rains. The wetland had been encroached on by massive rice growing (2007)
NEMA 2007
Floods caused by heavy rains in Aswa county (2007)
NEMA 2007
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