By Kazi Njema
The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) has embarked on the renovation of Masindi weather station into a modern reliable facility for determining weather patterns in Bunyoro region.
Speaking during the handover of the contract to Highbury Construction Co. Tuesday, Julius Kiprop Kapkwom, the Assistant Director of Station Network and Observations in UNMA, called upon leaders in Masindi to protect the station jealously from vandalism.
He said once guarded, it will efficiently benefit the region since data collected from the station shall be used to determine the currently unpredictable weather.
The director added that besides prediction, the weather station will serve as a learning point for students within the region who will by and large gain and apply knowledge about weather forecasts in their respective institutions.
Out of 189 weather stations in 90 districts, 53 are analogue while the rest are digital. Work on the renovated ones stands at 62% and it is expected to have reached 80% by 2025, according to Kiprop.
The Mayor Masindi Municipality, Ronald Kyomuhendo, said fencing off the infrastructure will prevent motorists from parking near it and also keep away people from relaxing there as it has always been done resulting in being mishandled.
The Masindi Deputy District Intelligence Officer, Kenneth Muhumuza, challenged the Masindi-based contractors to ensure value for money in the Shs45m-construction work projected to be complete within a month.
