Common Questions
This is an online monitoring platform that provides:
- Timely drought data and visualizations
- Early warning alerts
- Historical drought analysis
- District-level drought assessments
Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with Uganda's National Emergency Coordination and Operations Centre (NECOC).
1. Precipitation Data (CHIRPS)
- Source: Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Station Data
- Resolution: ~5.5km (0.05°)
- Frequency: Daily, aggregated to monthly
- Coverage: 2002 to present
2. Temperature Data (MODIS LST)
- Source: Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
- Resolution: 1km
- Frequency: Daily/8-day composites
3. Vegetation Data (NDVI)
- Source: MODIS and VIIRS satellites
- Resolution: 500m (MODIS), 375m (VIIRS)
- Frequency: 16-day composites
The system updates monthly with a one-month latency:
- Data for January becomes available in late February
- February data in late March, etc.
This delay ensures data quality and completeness from all sources.
Note: During emergencies, provisional data may be released earlier.
| Index Value | Classification | Potential Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| >1.0 | Normal | No drought conditions |
| 0.8-1.0 | Mild | Early drought signs, reduced pasture |
| 0.6-0.8 | Moderate | Crop stress, water shortages |
| 0.4-0.6 | Severe | Crop failure, livestock distress |
| <0.4 | Extreme | Emergency conditions |
The Combined Drought Index (CDI) is calculated from precipitation, temperature, and vegetation indicators.
The system provides historical data back to 2002. To access:
- Navigate to the 'Historical Analysis' section
- Select your time period of interest
- Choose geographical area (national, regional, or district-level)
- Download data in CSV or GeoTIFF format
For bulk historical data requests, please contact the support team.
For technical issues or data inquiries:
Drought Monitoring Support Team
Email:
Phone:
Available Monday-Friday, 8:00-17:00 EAT
For urgent matters during non-working hours, please use the emergency contact number provided above.