Kampala, Uganda

Following the success of DARAJA in Tanzania and Kenya during its first phase, the model has been replicated in Kampala, Uganda, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Baseline research identified flooding, extreme heat, and strong winds as the primary climate hazards affecting residents of informal settlements in Kampala.

To enhance the resilience of these vulnerable communities, DARAJA is improving access to, understanding, and use of weather and climate information in Bwaise, Kampala. Since its launch in mid-2023, DARAJA has driven significant transformational change, including institutional strengthening, community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, broader access to weather and climate information, and scaling beyond Bwaise. These achievements highlight the value of the DARAJA model in strengthening the resilience within urban informal settlements—a vulnerable group that is frequently neglected in mainstream initiatives. The continued expansion of this model will not only benefit Uganda but also serve as an inspiration for other cities facing similar climate challenges.

From 2026, with continued support from the WISER programme, DARAJA will expand its services to include an Extreme Heat component in Kampala, Dar es Salaam, and cities across Sudan. The programme will engage media and health sectors through co-design workshops, strengthen dissemination via media partnerships, and build media capacity to interpret and communicate heat-related weather and climate information. It will also support community awareness campaigns and the development of extreme heat-focused Early Action Plans.