Clare Nayebare
By Claire Nayebare
Fort Portal, Uganda – In the early morning mist that clings to the hills surrounding Fort Portal, once known as the “Switzerland of Uganda,” 52-year-old Annet Katusabe walks slowly between rows of drying banana trees Kijura towncouncil in Kabarole. Her gumboots sink slightly into the cracked soil that was once soft, dark, and fertile.
“This land used to feed our children,” she says, brushing a tired hand across her forehead. “Now, the sun doesn’t rest, and when it rains, it rains like punishment.”
Fort Portal, nestled in the green highlands of Western Uganda, has long been celebrated for its temperate climate, ideal for agriculture and tourism. But today, the region stands as a grim symbol of how climate change is rewriting the lives of ordinary people—especially women.
Climate Crisis Hits Home
Prolonged dry seasons now stretch into months, and when the rains come, they arrive in torrents, washing away topsoil, seeds, and hope. For women, who make up the majority of the agricultural workforce in this region, the change in climate is more than an inconvenience—it’s a crisis.
“I planted beans three times last season,” says 29-year-old Rose Kyakyo, a mother of three from Nyansozi Mugusu. “Each time, they died. Then in March, the rain came and washed away what was left.”
Women in Fort Portal not only plant and harvest; they also carry the responsibility of feeding families, collecting water, and earning supplementary income. With dwindling yields, water sources drying up, and roads flooded or destroyed, their load has doubled—physically and emotionally.
Water, Firewood, and Lost Time
For young girls, the situation is just as dire. As water sources disappear, the walk to fetch water grows longer, often into the forested hills. It’s not just time-consuming—it’s dangerous.
“My daughter missed school for two weeks last term,” says Annet. “She was helping me fetch water, sometimes walking five kilometers.”
In rural households, climate change has also intensified the search for firewood as trees die off or become waterlogged in floods. The daily tasks that once took an hour now take half the day, leaving little time for income-generating activities or education.
Women Leading Change
But amid the despair, women are also emerging as agents of change. Local women’s groups are organizing training on climate-smart agriculture, tree planting, and savings groups that help each other survive during the lean months.
Grace Tuhaise Abwooli, a leader in Kacwamba Abamu Women’s group, speaks passionately about their recent initiatives. “We are now using sacks and plastic containers to grow vegetables. It’s small, but at least our children are not going to bed hungry.”
The group is also lobbying local leaders to invest in rainwater harvesting and early warning systems for floods and droughts.
A Plea for Policy and Action
As Uganda and the global community talk about resilience and sustainability, the women of Fort Portal are asking for more than words.
“We are not just victims,” says Grace, standing beneath a wilted avocado tree. “We are fighters. But we can’t do it alone.”
Betty Mujungu Pendi the Deputy speaker Fort Portal Municipality, but also a gender activist, called for going back to activities that protect the environment by both genders, much as the females are the most affected.
Imagine a teenage girl who misses school due to lack of water for her personal hygiene. We have totally destroyed nature, a reason we are suffering the consequences. We can do better than this! She said.
For the women of Fort Portal, climate change is not a future threat. It is here, now—altering traditions, stealing dreams, and demanding urgent action.
