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Uganda Floods Update: Farmers Look to the Future with Hope 

Written by Charity Nalwoga & Lindsay Cobb
Patrick Nathion from Trees for the Future standing with others.

Farmers in Eastern Uganda are looking to the future as they continue to recover from unseasonal flooding and landslides in July and August.  

“It normally floods [earlier], but this year that changed and so we were not expecting it at all,” says farmer Edward Mukhwana. 

Damage caused by floods in Uganda

Unseasonal flooding and landslides washed away crops in rural Uganda – affecting hundreds of farmers.

Unseasonal Rains, Devastating Floods

Edward’s farm is in Bumbobi sub county, one of the regions most affected by the rains. Trees for the Future (TREES) works with 393 farmers in Bumbobi and thousands more across Mount Elgon, training them to implement agroforestry techniques to create diverse Forest Gardens.

Forest Gardens are made up of thousands of trees and dozens of species of food and resource crops. Not only do Forest Gardens lift families out of hunger and poverty, they also mitigate the effects of climate change and help farmers withstand extreme weather events like flooding. 

A view of an Ugandan Forest Garden

“Through diverse tree planting and intercropping, farmers adopt land and water management techniques that stabilize soils, infiltrate water back into the ground, and redirect flood waters; thus, protecting the valuable topsoil and crops within the garden,” explains TREES Director of Programs, Brandy Lellou. “But if the land upslope of the Forest Garden is not managed or protected in a similar way, and the trees are still young, Forest Garden farmers are not immune to heavy rains, flooding, and the danger of landslides.” 

Aerial shot of Forest Garden in Tanzania.

Located on the shores of a seasonal river, this Tanzanian farm is protected by flood waters thanks to its living fence and strategic earthworks.

According to the National Environment Authority (NEMA), the Mount Elgon region is reported to have the highest occurrence of landslides and floods in the country. NEMA attributes the increased frequency of these disasters to climate change effects. According to a Uganda Police Report from August, hundreds of farmers in the Mount Elgon region lost crops and property in the late July and August floods. 

“The water carried away everything,” says Edward. 

Patrick Nathion from Trees for the Future standing with others.

Forest Garden farmer Patrick Nathion (right) and other affected farmers meet with TREES staff to discuss recovery efforts.

Resilient Land & a Supportive Community

Edward is one of six farmers enrolled in TREES’ Forest Garden training program who reported substantial losses from the flooding. But they haven’t lost hope. 

“Luckily, we have another piece of land that is far from the stream that normally overflows. We shall be shifting our garden there,” says Edward’s daughter Doreen Masibo. “Trees for the Future is working with us to restore the gardens while providing us with more seed.” 

Hopeful Farmers

Patrick Nathion was also hit hard by the floods. But, like his Forest Garden, he is resilient. He is focused on picking himself up and working harder for his family. 

“Farming is our life so we have to keep on pushing. We are hopeful that when the rain reduces, we shall go back to normal and replace the lost crops,” Patrick shared shortly after the floods. 

“Thank you to all the TREES supporters who contributed to our flood relief efforts here in Uganda,” says Uganda Country Director Ivan Tumuhimbise. “Tragedy sets us back a few steps but working together allows us to overcome and achieve lasting solutions.” 

By November, rains in Uganda began to subside. Farmers will have a dry period in January and February, giving those affected by the floods an opportunity to reset with help from TREES staff. 

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