Official Website of the Ministry of Water and Environment
The Future of Forecasting: Uganda’s Meteorological Department Explores AI
Uganda’s Department of Meteorological Services (DMS), under the Ministry of Water and Environment, is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance weather forecasting and impact analysis.
The revelation was made by Dr. Bob Alex Ogwang, the Commissioner for DMS, during a two-day workshop held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kampala.
He stated that while AI will not be the sole basis for forecasts, it will be a vital asset in improving efficiency and providing more timely and reliable information.
Dr. Ogwang emphasized that the DMS will carefully test the technology’s reliability before full implementation.
This initiative aims to make forecasting more cost-effective and efficient, addressing persistent challenges like limited observational data and inadequate infrastructure.
The Commissioner also raised concerns about rising temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events across the country, and he urged the health sector to investigate potential changes since the 1990s.
The workshop, which brought together officials from various ministries and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), aimed to strengthen regional collaboration and improve data accuracy.
IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) is actively supporting member countries in using AI for “anticipatory actions,” which involve providing advisories to communities to help them prepare for extreme weather events in advance.
Dr. Maslin Gudoshava, a research scientist under ICPAC, among the facilitators of the workshop.
This initiative is a crucial step toward modernizing Uganda’s early warning systems, combining scientific information with existing communication platforms to better prepare communities for climate-related challenges.
Other attendees included representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries, and Fisheries.
