Violent backlash against African rainmakers intensifies as climate swings worsen

David Nabutsilili, a rainmaker from eastern Uganda, described how farmers chased him and broke his femur after an excessive rain flooded their fields, and he continues to feel the injury years later. He said he is repeatedly called upon for both rain-bringing and rain-stopping rituals, and that failure to meet expectations forces him to flee temporarily. In neighboring South Sudan, rainmakers Solomon Oture and Albino Lobillia were buried alive amid prolonged dry spells, with community members stating they decided on the killings because the men allegedly refused to summon rain.

A study shows the Kapoeta region’s average rainy days fell from 90 in the 1980s to 46 by the mid-2010s, and sudden intense rains now alternate with drought-driven crop losses. Farmers, who rely on subsistence agriculture, often blame rainmakers for their misfortunes, leading to assaults, detentions, and, in some cases, murder. Government officials acknowledge the growing violence and note a lack of public understanding about climate change. The practice of paying rainmakers, ranging from $13 to $260, is cited as a factor that can spark retaliation when expectations are not met.