Tropical climatic region

Uganda experiences both wet and dry tropical climate. This is so because it lies between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Tropical 'climate is described as wet and dry.
Tropical climate has two main rain seasons with a marked period of drought. In Uganda, rainfall seasons fall between March - May and August - October. Some areas receive more rainfall than others in Uganda. Some regions of Uganda experience higher temperatures than others. The hot tropical climate is experienced in places such as Arua, Nebbi, Moroto, Kotido, oyam, Amuru, Kaabog, Napak and Kumi. Areas with more rainfall received are referred to as the humid tropical Climate. This is experienced in places such as Masaka, Kampala, Jinja, Mukono, Kabale, Kisoro, Kiruhura, Mbarara and Kasese among others.

MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION

Equatorial climatic region
Some few parts of Uganda experience Equatorial climate. These are areas mainly lying on the shores of lake Victoria such as Entebbe and the Kalangala Islands. Equatorial climate is described as hot and wet throughout the year. It receives convectional rainfall as a result of the presence major water bodies such as L. Victoria and the thick Mabira Forests. Although Uganda is crossed by the Equator, it does not experience a true equatorial climate. This is because the plateau in Uganda makes it to lie at a relatively high altitude. The high altitude reduces the temperature which would be very high.

Semi - Arid climatic region

This climate is described as hot and dry. The temperature is very high and rainfall is very low. This type of climate is experienced in the Northern and North Eastern Parts of Uganda in the districts such as Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto Napak, Nakapiripiriti, Amuru and Oyam.

Montane Climatic region

This type of climate is experienced in mountainous and highland areas. Highlands experience low temperatures because of the high altitude. Some highland areas also receive plenty of rainfall because they are good water catchment areas. They influence rain formation. This type of climate is experienced in areas like Mbale, Kisoro, Bundibugyo and Kabale.

Influence of physical features on climate
Influence of highlands on climate

Highlands modify the temperature of an area. Areas that have highlands experience low temperatures. The higher the altitude the lower the temperature. Such places with such conditions experience a cool climate. Highlands influence the formation of relief rainfall. Moist winds are forced up the mountain. Clouds are formed and rainfall is received. The windward side of the mountain receive a lot of rainfall. Some highlands are sources of rivers, these rivers tend to modify the climate of an area. Some highlands have thick forests, which also influence rain formation.

The lee ward side of a mountain is dry because experiences dry winds. Therefore, it forms a rain shadow.

Formation of Relief Rainfall

 

When winds blow over large water bodies, they pick up moisture. When the blowing winds get to the highland areas, they are forced to rise through evaporation process up in the atmosphere. The moisture condenses to form clouds and later rain droplets are received.

Influence of water bodies on climate
When the sun heats the water bodies, the water gets heated and evaporates. The moisture rises up in the atmosphere, condenses, forms clouds and later results into rain droplets.

Land and sea breeze

A sea breeze causes convectional rainfall which blows usually during the afternoon from the sea to the land depending on the level of heating and cooling of land and water. Temperatures on land get warmer during the day. The wind from the sea is blown towards land to cool it down. This leads to formation of clouds and which results in convectional rainfall. This takes place during day time.

Land breeze
During the night land cools down quicker than the sea. The sea takes long to cool down during the night. Land breeze usually cause rain at night. It is accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Plains are mainly covered with short grass with scattered trees. These areas are always dry because of limited transpiration and therefore less rainfall is formed.
Cyclonic rainfall is at times received in these areas. This rainfall is formed when a cold dry air mass meets with a warm moist air mass. The cold heavy air mass forces the warm light air mass to rise. The moisture reaches the condensation point, forms clouds and comes down as rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rift valley
A rift valley is formed when there is faulting within the earth's crust, and the central block sinks due to tensional, or compressional forces.
As a result of that process, these areas experience very high temperatures because they lie at a low altitude.
The forests which grow at the rift valley base and the escarpments contribute to rain formation in some areas .

 

Plateaus

The plateau is a flat raised area more than the area that surrounds it. This increase in altitude causes a decrease in temperature. Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo for example both lie along the Equator but they experience different climatic conditions. Democratic Republic of Congo experiences higher temperatures than Uganda. This is because Uganda lies at a higher altitude than the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

Influence of climate on human activities.

People who live in areas with reliable rainfall practice crop farming. Those in areas which do not receive reliable rainfall they usually practice nomadic pastoralism. There are some crops however those are grown in places that do not receive reliable rainfall. These are called drought resistant crops.

The farmers should know the climate of an area because it helps them to choose the crops to grow and animals to keep. Different crops and animals need different types of climate that favour their survival.

Wet climatic conditions favour the following crops such as Bananas, coffee, tea, sweet potatoes, wheat, maize, groundnuts, yams, cocoa vegetables, irish potatoes, sugarcane, fruits and oil palm

Dry climatic conditions favour the drought resistant crops such as; Millet, sorghum, cassava, simsim and sunflower. Some animal such as camels, donkeys and cattle are also reared in dry areas.