Uganda
Climate change in Uganda can be addressed by investments in resilience and the energy transition. Uganda could invest in deliberate policies focused on rural resilience and reducing dependence on the fossil fuel industry.
What is in the directory about Uganda?
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1997–2026
Overview
According to civil society reports in our collection, Uganda has an opportunity to implement more policies to create climate resilience and implementing the energy transition. As of 2026, the majority of Uganda’s economy is connected to a decentralized rural economy, often without substantial access to energy and the efficiencies that come with electrified services (issafri-000152).
Estimates in both 2024 and 2026, show that over half of the workforce in Uganda is employed in agriculture, and the agricultural economy supports over 20% of GDP in the country, while other vulnerable parts of society are connected to that rural economy (issafri-000020, saiia-000067). Mitigation of climate risk through effective adaptation, when combined with investments in the energy transition, has the opportunity to make Uganda more climate resilient.
What is the best path for energy transition in Uganda?
Multiple reports emphasized the opportunity for rural access to clean energy, especially through microgrids and proactive investments in solar financing. These case studies include reports from the Institute for Security Studies (issafri-000152), the South African Institute for International Affairs (saiia-000148) and from the Stockholm Environment Institute (sei-001068). The Institute for Security Studies highlights that this transition could be an opportunity for mitigating climate risk, by directly invest in the rural economy so that it is more resilient during heatwaves and other climate disasters. (issafri-000152).
The fossil fuel industry is one of the extractive industries that multiple civil society organisations highlighted as creating risk for Uganda. The South African Institute of International Affairs, as early as 2011, noted that there were governance and legal risks for the exploitation of fossil fuels in the country (saiia-000995 and saiia-001020). More recently, explicitly climate-focused organizations, such as the Climate Policy Initiative and Natural Justice, pointed out that both economic and human rights issues are connected to oil projects, like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (clipolin-000305, natjust-000014).
How important is investing in climate adaptation for Uganda?
Reports from multiple organizations publishing about Uganda highlighted gaps in capacity for implementing environmental and climate programs that included vulnerable populations such as women and other minorities (iisd-000297, glorespar-000075, and africac-000019). Other civil society reports focus on larger structural challenges around capacity for implementing environmental action. For example, one report by the World Resources Institute highlighted that local governments often don’t have the authority or capacity to implement environmental projects, and almost complete control of extractive industries by central planning prevents local governments from stepping in (wri-001274).
Two reports -- one from Climate and Development Knowledge Network and one from the Green Economy Coalition -- highlight how the Government has passed multiple policies that would in theory strengthen climate action and adaptation in the economy, but the impact is only felt through implementation. For example, the government of Uganda had a robust on-paper response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with policies that could have been used to address climate issues, but that did not get implemented well (geconco-000055). In 2022, CDKN estimated that if Uganda does not implement the policies described in the National Climate Change Act of 2021, the cost of inaction could be 20-24 times higher when accounting for costs of climate disasters and other adverse climate impacts (cdkn-000410).
To search for climate policies passed by the government of Uganda, we recommend the policies described at Climate Policy Radar’s Geography Page, including the National Climate Change Act of 2021 analyzed in a 2022 CDKN report (cdkn-000410).
Perspectives
How exposed is Uganda's economy to external shocks like climate and energy cost spikes, and how resilient have policy responses been?
In general, civil society reports are emphasizing the role that external factors, such as COVID, the War in Ukraine and fuel price volatility for the economy of Uganda. More climate resilience involves planning for these shocks alongside climate disasters.
Insights
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Each insight is extracted from a source document by a language model, then read and approved by an editor before it appears here. The editor chooses which insights answer the question and in what order; insights are summaries of key information from the original source.
Since the signing of an initial agreement in 2013, the value of Uganda's oil reserves has decreased by more than $40 billion, representing a drop of over 70% to a value of $18.1 billion. If a low-carbon transition aligned with the Paris Agreement goals occurs, the value of the oil is projected to fall to 88% of its value from seven years prior.
Climate Policy InitiativeUnderstanding the Impact of a Low-Carbon Transition on Uganda's Planned Oil Industry, 2020Despite expectations that oil exploitation would lead to middle income status, jobs, fuel security, and foreign currency revenues, first oil had not flowed by the end of 2020 due to investment delays and volatility in global oil markets.
Climate Policy InitiativeUnderstanding the Impact of a Low-Carbon Transition on Uganda's Planned Oil Industry, 2020The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented economic and health shock in Uganda, resulting in economic growth slowing to 2.9 percent in FY2019/20. This decline particularly impacted the industrial and service sectors, leading to job losses and reduced income, while low food inflation caused by trade slowdowns and low aggregate demand likely increased rural poverty.
South African Institute of International AffairsEfficacy of COVID-19 Macro Economic Policy Responses in Uganda, 2021
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Despite economic growth—including a doubling of GDP between 2010/11 and 2018/19—Uganda faces significant structural challenges, including a subsistence economy comprising 68.9% of households, a youth bulge of 78%, high electricity costs, and corruption.
Institute for Security StudiesUganda Background, 2026
What examples do we have of scalable renewable energy pilots in Uganda?
As the expansion of renewable energy, it's important to have models that reflect the local economy and financing situation.
Insights
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Each insight is extracted from a source document by a language model, then read and approved by an editor before it appears here. The editor chooses which insights answer the question and in what order; insights are summaries of key information from the original source.
Between January and September 2025, Village Energy installed solar-hybrid energy systems in 26 health centres to support medical oxygen and lighting. System configurations varied by facility: 4.6 kWp PV modules producing up to 18.7 kWh/day for two oxygen concentrators, or 5.8kWp PV modules producing up to 23.5 kWh/day for four oxygen concentrators. While most were solar-hybrid (solar + grid), two facilities operated entirely off-grid.
Alliance for Renewable ElectrificationVillage Energy powers healthcare in Uganda, 2026Village Energy has provided power to more than 100 health centres in Uganda, demonstrating that renewable energy integration into national healthcare infrastructure is cost-effective and technically viable.
Alliance for Renewable ElectrificationVillage Energy powers healthcare in Uganda, 2026ENGIE Equatorial deployed 15 boats equipped with electric outboards and Li-ion battery banks on Lake Victoria to test the technical and economic feasibility of replacing polluting Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). The observed maximum operating range for these vehicles is between 20-45 km, varying based on weather conditions, loading, and speed.
Alliance for Renewable ElectrificationENGIE Equatorial – E-outboards for fishermen on Lake Victoria (Uganda), 2023
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The project estimates significant environmental and economic benefits, including a reduction in operational costs for fishermen by 20-60%. Annual gasoline savings per boat are estimated between 1,628 and 2,750 l, with total CO2 emissions savings estimated between 57 and 96 t per year.
Alliance for Renewable ElectrificationENGIE Equatorial – E-outboards for fishermen on Lake Victoria (Uganda), 2023The e-mobility pilot is integrated with a solar hybrid mini-grid on Lolwe Island that provides power to over 3,800 households and businesses, as well as four ice machines, one fish drier, and one water purification facility. The project also created three local permanent part-time jobs focused on asset management and battery recharge.
Alliance for Renewable ElectrificationENGIE Equatorial – E-outboards for fishermen on Lake Victoria (Uganda), 2023
What policy approaches are emerging to help Uganda adapt to climate risks?
With a very centralized economy, with significant reliance on rural agriculture, fossil fuels and mineral extraction, a consistent theme for civil society is: how to design for resilience going forward, with new climate shocks like flooding, drought and biodiversity loss.
Insights
AI-generated
Each insight is extracted from a source document by a language model, then read and approved by an editor before it appears here. The editor chooses which insights answer the question and in what order; insights are summaries of key information from the original source.
The CRSF is designed to distribute currency risk among three parties: a traditional or development-oriented FX hedge provider (such as TCX), the Uganda Development Bank, and a guarantor (a donor or development finance institution). UDB uses a conventional hedging instrument, like a currency swap, for a portion of its foreign currency liability and absorbs moderate currency risk for the remainder, while the guarantor covers losses if depreciation exceeds a predefined dynamic threshold.
Climate Policy InitiativeUDB Currency Risk-Sharing Facility Instrument Design Report, 2026Nature-based solutions for adaptation in Uganda are distributed across a variety of ecosystems rather than being dominated by one, including mountains, peatlands, river systems, savannah, protected areas, forest landscapes, and wetlands and associated catchments.
International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentNature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Uganda, 2026The 'Bring Back Our Trees' reforestation project in Kasese, Uganda, aims to mitigate flood risks by planting trees across 30,270 hectares, specifically targeting riverbanks, urban spaces, and steep hills to reduce infrastructure damage and enhance climate resilience.
International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Asset Valuation of Reforestation in Uganda, 2024
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Nature-based infrastructure interventions in Kasese provide diverse co-benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity habitat improvement, job creation, and the prevention of soil erosion.
International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Asset Valuation of Reforestation in Uganda, 2024To improve economic resilience and the trade balance, the report recommends the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), focusing on diversifying exports and increasing agricultural productivity.
Institute for Security StudiesUGANDA DEVELOPMENT FUTURES: GEOGRAPHIC FUTURES, 2026
Are Uganda's agricultural subsidy and support programs enough to help with adaptation to climate change?
Multiple parts of government programs are focused on investing in the resilience of the individual farmers. These programs are important for the overall resilience of rural communities in Uganda.
Insights
AI-generated
Each insight is extracted from a source document by a language model, then read and approved by an editor before it appears here. The editor chooses which insights answer the question and in what order; insights are summaries of key information from the original source.
The government provides insurance subsidies of 50% for small farmers and 30% for large farmers, allocating approximately USD 1.35 million annually. While coverage grew from 45,704 farmers six years prior to 687,608 farmers by March 2023, the majority of beneficiaries are medium and large-scale farmers.
International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentSubvenciones a la Agricultura: El caso de Uganda, 2024Mountain Harvest operates as an intermediary for 850 farmers across eight communities in Mount Elgon, Uganda, using organic certification to help farmers avoid commodity pricing and secure better market deals.
Global Resilience PartnershipChallenging established practices in the coffee industry, 2023To mitigate climate risks such as droughts and mudslides, Mountain Harvest implements regenerative agriculture and income diversification by introducing macadamia, avocados, rabbit rearing for organic manure, and legumes for soil nitrogen.
Global Resilience PartnershipChallenging established practices in the coffee industry, 2023
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Agriculture is the largest employer and the backbone of Uganda's economy, contributing over 20% of the GDP. To boost growth and create jobs, the briefing suggests investing in infrastructure (roads and storage), mechanization, and practical training in areas such as pest control, irrigation, and post-harvest handling.
South African Institute of International AffairsUganda: The Future of Work for Youth, 2024In Uganda, traditional storage methods like granaries and baskets are inefficient, leading to losses of 17.6% for cereals and up to 40% for fruits and vegetables. Additionally, high aflatoxin levels in maize, sorghum, and groundnuts have hindered regional trade, exemplified by a 2021 Kenyan ban on Ugandan maize that caused exports to drop from 94,382 MT in early 2021 to 2,765 MT by the end of 2012.
African Climate FoundationThe Status of Food Storage, Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya and Ghana, 2025
Does planning for participation of women and youth increase the effectiveness of adaptation and resilience programs?
Multiple of the publishers in our collection focused on how including vulnerable populations in the adaptation and resilience programs increased the quality of their outcomes.
Insights
AI-generated
Each insight is extracted from a source document by a language model, then read and approved by an editor before it appears here. The editor chooses which insights answer the question and in what order; insights are summaries of key information from the original source.
Social inclusion within the NbS portfolio is uneven, with only some projects demonstrating gender-responsive design, focus on marginalized groups, women's participation, or targeted livelihood benefits.
International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentNature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Uganda, 2026Gender and social inequities persist in the sector; for example, in Uganda, women make up less than 20% of the fisheries labour force, and women fishers in other areas are often restricted to nearshore waters.
African Climate FoundationTransitions to Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa, 2025The Twezimbe Women’ Group adopted a solar power irrigation initiative in 2021 to address the impacts of climate change, specifically long dry spells and unpredictable rainfall patterns that hindered their ability to reliably supply vegetables for their catering business.
Global Resilience PartnershipChanging with the Tides of Change: A Women's Group Journey Towards Climate Resilience, 2022
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The group identified specific gender-based challenges in implementing adaptation initiatives, noting that clearing land for the pump construction and transporting mulching grass was more difficult for the women members than it would have been for men.
Global Resilience PartnershipChanging with the Tides of Change: A Women's Group Journey Towards Climate Resilience, 2022Female hand sorters in the coffee value chain are identified as 'invisible workers' who often live in severe poverty on less than $1 a day with no job security; Mountain Harvest is working to provide them with more consistent work, daily meals, and opportunities for saving and entrepreneurship.
Global Resilience PartnershipChallenging established practices in the coffee industry, 2023Many Ugandan youth, particularly women, migrate to the Middle East for work, where approximately 165,000 Ugandans are currently employed. These workers often face physical and sexual abuse from employers in a process described as 'labour expropriation'.
South African Institute of International AffairsUganda: The Future of Work for Youth, 2024