Severity

The severity of long dry spell can be seen inform of;

• Drying up of rivers, protected springs,
• reduction in borehole yields,
• crops drying up hence reduction in crop productivity,
• animals dying due to lack of water,
• high wind speed which is with a lot of durst causing respiratory diseases, high temperatures, wild burning of the area

Duration

Prolonged drought is usually experienced for months like from November – End of March, June – July  every year, which only leaves the months of April – May and August – October for rains

Signs

The following are the early warning signs that are used traditionally;

Direction of the wind

High speed of dry wind blowing shows drought. When the wind blows from North to south or from south to north, this means there will be no rain. When the direction of wind changes to blow from West to East and when it changes to blow to the west, then rain is about to come.

Frogs

When toads are seen plenty, or moving around this means there is going to be drought, but when you hear the sounds of a type of frog called Masure  in Kakwa, this means rains are about to come but when they are not heard and seen then that is a sign of drought

Butter fly

When you see very many butter flies this shows that you are about to experience drought but when you see Kind fire fly (Ebinyanya  in Lugbara/ Dulu ) this is a sign of rains

Birds

When you hear the sound of a bird locally called Yukududu in Kakwa, then rains are about to come but when you do not hear them that means there is going to be drought. When you hear the sound of a bird which goes like “Mi eji aco, Mi eji aco” then rains are about to come. When certain birds begin to fly in groups this shows sign of rain coming soon. During dry spell usually there is coldness felt in the morning