What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

He looked on helplessly, tears rolling down his cheeks as he kept biting his lower lip. Minutes earlier, he was agitated, attempting to plunge into the ferociously high-running water that carried and swallowed his motorcycle (boda boda). He sorely watched on as the wild waters carried his source of livelihood down afar. Friends, shouting with pleas to let it go, pushed the envelope to hold him back.

The news on a local radio that morning had reported that the floods on River Nyamwamba had claimed the life of a resident and warned other community members against attempts to cross it. Nyamwamba, which has recently become synonymous with effects of climate change as its waters rise and run at uncontrollably destructive speeds, once fed gardens with irrigation water in Kasese.

In addition to heavy rains, which contribute to floods, the river feeds on melting glaciers from Mountain Rwenzori, whose snow continues to recede as a result of increased temperatures.

The World Bank (WB) reports that Uganda has in past decades experienced more erratic rainfalls, leading to frequent bursting of river banks, mudslides and landslides. These have further birthed loss of lives and property of communities, especially those living in the mountainous areas. At the same time, those in low lands experience floods as seen during and after downpours in many parts, including Kampala and its suburbs.

Devastating

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