RWAMPARA, UGANDA: The Uganda National Meteorological Authority has set up a 12 billion Shillings weather radar station for the western region.
A weather radar is an observational instrument used in meteorology to identify and picture various types of precipitation such as rain, snow or hail, measure their magnitude and intensity, and track their movement. It does so by sending out electromagnetic or microwaves into the atmosphere and analyzing the returning echoes.
It consists of a transmitted radio signal aimed by an antenna in a particular direction, and a receiver that detects the echoes off any objects in the path of the signal. When the electromagnetic pulse strikes an object such as a raindrop, the wave reflects back to the radar with data that can be analyzed by meteorologists. They then use this information to determine specific areas where dangerous weather conditions exist, helping them to protect life and property.
The radar in Mwizi sub county, Rwampara district will track severe weather events affecting the region, especially thunderstorms, lightning, squalls and heavy rainfall and help to enhance weather forecast, targeting to know where exactly it will rain or shine at micro-climate level and determine what to improve in terms of environment protection.
UNMA Public Relations Officer Lilian Nkwenge says that the radar covers a radius of 500 kilometres of Western and South Western parts of the country. It will also be covering the Northern parts of Tanzania and Rwanda. She says Uganda now has three radars, one in Entebbe, Lira and now in Rwampara making Uganda the biggest weather station for East Africa.
Nkwenge says that getting the new radar will enable the authority to detect severe weather and boost the theme of this year which is Early Warning Early Action.
The Head of Information Technology at UNMA Solomon Mageni, said that the unveiling of the new radar will be a boost to the weather forecast for the region. He says the authority is moving to research, and advanced technology noting that the radar at Mwizi hill is one of the most advanced in the world.
Mbarara city mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi says farmers in Mbarara and the region need to be taught much about the weather. He questioned the climate change that has cost farmers, noting that the Authority needs to help farmers with actual information.
Racheal Katushabe, a farmer from Kabwohe welcomed the hosting of the day in Mbarara, however, wants the Authority to get nearer to the rural farmer and sensitize the farmers on the weather forecasts.
Mbarara city will this week host the National Meteorological Day on March 23, 2022, under the auspices of the Uganda National Meteorological Authority(UNMA). The much-anticipated celebrations started on Monday with a number of activities including an exhibition of farmers, scholars institutions like Universities among others at the Mayor’s Gardens.
The events held every year by the Meteorological Community are to celebrate the coming into force of the World Meteorological Organisation Convention, which was created by the World Meteorological Organization, the Specialized Agency of the United Nations for weather, climate, and hydrology.
Uganda will hold this year’s world meteorological day under the theme “early warning and early action. Hydrometeorological and climate information for disaster risk reduction.” The events will also provide an opportunity to highlight the benefits of weather forecasts as an enabler to social economic development, of all sectors mostly agriculture.
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