The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA), a semi-autonomous government agency under the Ministry of Water and Environment, is responsible for weather and climate services as outlined in the UNMA Act of 2012. It serves as Uganda’s focal institution to the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and collaborates with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its global network.
UNMA plays a critical role in supporting Uganda’s social and economic development by establishing and maintaining a weather and climate observation network. It provides data, warnings, and advisories for key sectors, including transport (aviation and marine), agriculture, disaster preparedness, defence, tourism, construction, and environmental management.
Aligned with the WMO Convention, UNMA’s objectives include:
- Monitoring weather and climate.
- Protecting life, property, and the environment.
- Supporting sustainable development.
- Promoting long-term data collection and indigenous capacity-building.
- Fulfilling international commitments and fostering global cooperation.
Weather and climate are essential to Uganda’s national development, influencing the management and utilisation of natural resources across all sectors of the economy.
Uganda Aeronautical Meteorological Services – Weather Forecasting Services
Aeronautical Meteorological Services
The Department provides meteorological services for domestic and international air navigation to ensure the safety, regularity and efficiency of air travel. It also provides support during Search and Air Rescue (SAR) operations by providing vital meteorological information during a search in both, marine and aviation accidents.
Currently, the UNMA provides aeronautic meteorological services at 2 airports and 3 aerodromes where Air Traffic Control services are provided. The airports are Entebbe and Soroti whereas the aerodromes are Gulu, Arua and Kasese. Limited meteorological services are also available at the aerodromes of Kajjansi, Kakira, Nakasongola, Pakuba, Kisoro, Kinkizi, Moroto and Kidepo.
The aeronautical meteorology services provided by UNMA to Civil Aviation are specific and are chargeable on cost recovery basis under international rules and regulations. The aeronautical Department at NMC Entebbe, receives on daily basis a copy of “MAY FLY LIST” from the airport authorities. This list contains details of aircrafts that may take off or land at Entebbe International Airport for the day. The Pilot Briefing office then prepares a weather folder for each of the departing aircrafts giving specific details of weather conditions at the expected time of flight.
It is the duty of forecasters to append a trend type forecast to all hourly or half hourly observed data before they are transmitted to the Air Traffic Controllers.
The weather folder contains the following details:
- Terminal aerodrome forecast of the destination Airport & weather conditions of two agreed alternate airports.
- Weather forecast of the originating airport and en route forecast
- Upper level winds, temperature and significant weather for the entire route
- A forecast for Take-off data which refer to a specified period of time and should contain information on expected conditions over the runway in regard to surface wind direction and speed (QAN) and any variations thereof, temperature (QMU), pressure (QNH) and any other information as may be requested by a pilot.
- The Department also provides training in Aeronautical Meteorology to Air Traffic controllers, Pilots and Aeronautical Information Officers.