Researchers Call for Improved Access to Environmental Information for Citizens

Government has been urged to increase access to environmental information to help ordinary Ugandans adapt to climate change. 

The call was made by Marie Nanyanzi, a Senior Programs Officer at Twaweza East Africa, during the commemoration of International Day for Universal Access to Information in Kampala yesterday.

According to Nanyanzi, a recent study conducted by Twaweza East Africa found that 3% of Ugandans identified climate change as one of the top three serious problems facing the country. The study findings highlight the need for increased awareness and action on climate change. 

With Uganda’s economy largely reliant on agriculture, Nanyanzi emphasizes the importance of timely and accurate weather forecasts to enable farmers to make informed decisions and sustain their households. 

“Whenever there is a change in the weather patterns, it affects how farmers plan for their agricultural practices,” said Nanyanzi, explaining that delayed or unpredictable rains can impact yields.

A recent report by AFIC highlights the challenges Ugandans face in accessing information. According to the report, only 9.7% of Access to Information (ATI) requests received responses, with responses taking an average of 56 days, far beyond statutory timelines.

During the keynote address, Joshua Akandwanaho, Senior Information Technology Official at the National Information Technology Authority (NITA), highlighted the government’s efforts to digitize government processes and increase access to information.

Akandwanaho noted that digital technologies can play a crucial role in promoting access to information, citing the Government Citizen Interaction Centre (UCIC) as an example of a platform that coordinates information requests from government to citizens.

However, Akandwanaho noted that challenges persist, including the high cost of devices, limited digital literacy, and the need for more digital content that is relevant and useful to citizens. 

He called for increased collaboration between government, media, and civil society to promote open data culture, digital literacy, and responsible information dissemination. 

“We must strengthen collaboration between government, the media, and civil society, plus all other partners, the academia. Let’s promote the open data culture in every public institution,” Akandwanaho said.

The commemoration for International Day for Universal Access to Information, organized by Twaweza East Africa in collaboration with Makerere University and the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC), ran under the global theme of “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age.”