Floods in Dokolo Linked to Climate Change, Says MP Aspirant

Joseph Jones Ogwal Omara Etwop, an Environmental Scientist and aspirant for the Dokolo North parliamentary seat, has attributed the recent floods in Dokolo to climate change. He explained that the Indian Ocean dipole, which has both positive and negative phases, plays a significant role in weather patterns in East Africa.

"When the dipole is in its positive phase, it leads to heavy rainfall in East Africa, causing floods. This is why we see droughts and fires in Australia during the same period," Omara Etwop noted. He emphasized that when rainfall increases in East Africa, it can lead to flooding of up to 30 meters in downstream areas.

Omara Etwop dismissed claims that the floods were caused by excessive water from the Bujagali dam in Jinja, stating that the dam releases water in a controlled manner. He pointed out that if the dam were the cause, flooding would primarily affect areas around the dam and upstream along the Nile, not distant regions like Dokolo.

His insights highlight the broader impact of climate change on weather patterns in Uganda, urging a focus on scientific explanations rather than misconceptions.