Makerere University, through the School of Public Health and School of Gender, has partnered with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) to resolve climate-induced migration.
Climate-induced migration will be addressed through a four-year project dubbed Cities for Youth that was launched by the state minister for gender and culture Hon. Peace Mutuuzo on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The minister described the project as initiative that seeks to explore one of the most pressing challenges facing Uganda’s youth climate-induced migration.
The state minister for gender noted that due to climate-induced migration, many female youth are exposed to harassment and exploitation while their male counterparts are forced to engage in physically demanding and unsafe jobs.
“Migration is not just a population issue; it has gendered dimensions. Female youth face greater risks of harassment and exploitation while male youth migrants often engage in physically demanding and unsafe jobs,” she said.
Mutoozo reassured the youth of the government’s commitment to supporting them navigate the challenges of climate change.
“The government of Uganda is fully committed to supporting our youth as they navigate the challenges of climate change. The NRM manifesto outlines several challenges to mitigate climate impacts, including the restoration of ecosystems,” she added.
Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director National Planning Authority, in his remarks presented by Judith Mutabazi, said the project seeks to provide evidence needed to plan and address climate-related challenges noting that the impact of climate change is not just an agricultural issue.
“For our youth, the impact of climate change is not just an agricultural issue. As rural areas become less habitable due to environmental challenges, young people are forced to migrate to urban centres such as Mbale and Mbarara, seeking better opportunities and standard of living plus all other upcoming cities and municipalities,” Muvawala noted.
The project led by Dr. Angela Chang will explore the extent of climate youth migration and its gendered impact on livelihoods, health, and system capacity in secondary cities in Uganda.
A report published by the World Bank in 2021 disclosed that as many as 12 million people, or 11 per cent of the Ugandan population could migrate because of slow onset climate factors, without concrete climate and development action by 2050. The report also estimates that about 200,000 are affected by weather-related disasters annually.
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