Uganda’s climate change knowledge and accountability gap is fuelling disinformation

What the report says

Uganda’s climate policy oversight and the spread of climate misinformation were the focus of a recent Observer report that linked gaps in accountability to weaker public understanding. In parliament on October 20, 2026, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said the climate change committee had not produced a single report during the five-year life of the 11th Parliament, despite receiving public funds. The report said this left lawmakers with less evidence to assess how well government was implementing climate laws and policies.

The article said the committee’s inactivity matters because Uganda faces rising climate risks, including floods, droughts and food insecurity. It noted that parliamentary scrutiny is meant to test whether the National Climate Change Policy, the National Climate Change Act, 2021, and related climate finance tools are being carried out effectively. Without regular reporting, the paper argued, debate on spending, enforcement and policy priorities becomes harder and public trust can erode.

The Observer also tied the accountability gap to a wider information problem. It cited a Climate Change and Information Integrity Masterclass held by CIPESA and UNESCO at the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2026 in Mauritius, where participants discussed how false or misleading climate claims spread online across Africa. The article described common narratives such as climate denial, “whataboutism,” and overreliance on individual action, saying these can weaken support for evidence-based responses.

As broader context, the report said journalists and communities often struggle with limited data, specialist knowledge and fact-checking resources, making local climate reporting more difficult. It also pointed to ongoing policy disputes, such as Uganda’s charcoal restrictions, as examples of how climate measures can become contentious when alternatives and consultation are limited.