---
title: "African rainmakers face violence amid climate change impacts"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/african-rainmakers-face-violence-amid-climate-change-impacts"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/african-rainmakers-face-violence-amid-climate-change-impacts"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/african-rainmakers-face-violence-amid-climate-change-impacts.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/african-rainmakers-face-violence-amid-climate-change-impacts"
category: "Climate"
area: "Africa"
published: "2026-09-15T11:05:12.901Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-15T10:35:26.832Z"
updated: "2026-09-15T11:05:12.901Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 61
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-15T12:45:24.791706+00:00"
---

# African rainmakers face violence amid climate change impacts

*Farmers blame spiritual leaders for erratic weather, leading to assaults and deaths in some regions.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One outlet provided a full report, with others providing digests. Claims are attributed to the full report.
- Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The report includes quotes from affected individuals, experts, and officials, and explains the context and consequences.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. The headline uses loaded adjectives like 'cruel' and 'vexes' but is supported by the article's content.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Rainmakers in parts of Africa, traditionally spiritual leaders who perform rituals for rainfall, are increasingly facing violence from farmers.
- Farmers blame rainmakers for both droughts and floods, with climate change exacerbating unpredictable weather patterns.
- Incidents include physical assaults, such as a farmer breaking a rainmaker's femur in Uganda, and killings in South Sudan.
- Fees for rainmakers can range from $13 to $260, and some have been detained for alleged fraud.

Rainmakers in several African countries, who perform rituals to implore deities for rain, are facing violence from farmers struggling with unpredictable weather. These spiritual leaders are blamed when droughts persist or when floods damage crops, a situation exacerbated by climate change. In Uganda, farmers beat rainmaker David Nabutsilili, breaking his femur, after receiving too much rain that flooded their gardens. He told The Associated Press that people beat them when the rain is too much or absent.

In South Sudan, at least two rainmakers have been killed in the past two years. One was buried alive during a dry spell, and another was abducted and buried alive during a prolonged dry spell, according to witnesses. A study indicated that the average annual number of rainy days in South Sudan's Kapoeta region fell from 90 in the 1980s to 46 by the mid-2010s. Communities in flood-prone areas have experienced alternating periods of crop loss due to floods and drought. Government official Matthew Oromo stated that people are unaware of climate change, contributing to the violence against rainmakers.

## Disagreements in reporting

Reports differ on the specific details of the violence against David Nabutsilili in Uganda. ABC News reports that farmers chased him and he fell on a rock, breaking his femur. The Toronto Star, St Catharines Standard, The Hamilton Spectator, The Record, and Winnipeg Free Press digests state that farmers chased him up the hills, stopping when he fell upon a rock and broke his femur, which was his punishment. The National Herald digest also states farmers chased him up the hills, stopping when he fell upon a rock and broke his femur, which was his punishment.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the range of fees for rainmakers, which can be from $13 to $260. None of the centre-rated digests mention the range of fees for rainmakers. None of the right-rated digests mention the range of fees for rainmakers.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 20 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 75% (15)
- Centre: 10% (2)
- Right: 15% (3)

0 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-15T12:45:24.791706+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-15T13:15:16.639Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports led on the violence faced by rainmakers, linking it directly to climate change. They highlighted specific incidents of assault and death, such as David Nabutsilili's broken femur in Uganda and the killings in South Sudan. These reports quoted individuals like Nabutsilili and elders discussing the pressures and dangers they face. They also included details from a study on declining rainfall in South Sudan and noted that some rainmakers in Uganda have been detained for allegedly obtaining money under false pretenses. The reports consistently framed the issue as farmers' reactions to unpredictable weather patterns driven by climate change.

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports focused on the role of rainmakers as spiritual leaders and the challenges they face due to climate change. They mentioned the performance of rituals to implore deities for rainfall and the increasing expectations placed upon them. These digests noted that rainmakers are blamed for drought and, in extreme cases, killed by mobs. They also included details about the specific incident in Uganda where farmers beat David Nabutsilili, breaking his femur, after receiving too much rain.

### Right

- Right-rated reports highlighted the traditional role of rainmakers as spiritual leaders performing rituals for rain. They noted that climate change is raising expectations that these leaders cannot meet, leading to blame for drought and, in extreme cases, violence. The digests mentioned the incident in Uganda where farmers beat David Nabutsilili, breaking his femur, after receiving too much rain. They also included the detail that the rainmaking spirit often moves across generations of a particular clan.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 2
- high: 15
- veryHigh: 3

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Stuff](https://stuff.co.nz/climate-change/361033870/they-are-paid-bring-rain-when-it-fails-or-leads-flood) — They are paid to bring rain. When it fails — or leads to floods — violence can follow
- [Enid News & Eagle](https://enidnews.com/region/they-are-paid-to-bring-rain-when-it-fails-or-leads-to-floods-violence-can/article_519c9cea-8585-58cb-882f-a0de64bb88a2.html) — They are paid to bring rain. When it fails — or leads to floods — violence can follow
- [Africa News](https://africanews.com/2026/09/15/africas-rainmakers-still-in-demand-but-face-challenges-from-climate-change) — Africa's rainmakers still in demand but face challenges from climate change
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/africa/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_daa11532-f9f0-5faa-8d13-2663a03326f0.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/life/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_f3283dd8-ca1c-54b7-8bd7-ee2e632ea952.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/people-uganda-africa-communities-south-sudan-b3050240.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/people-uganda-africa-communities-south-sudan-b3050240.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [Oskaloosa Herald](https://oskaloosa.com/news/national_news/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_5271b477-0357-58c2-acdd-c67885a93143.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [The Daily Item](https://dailyitem.com/wire/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_a7057ed9-a5ab-5942-b7d8-63a8f5c9bcc1.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [Herald Bulletin](https://heraldbulletin.com/news/nation_world/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_75ccea05-e11f-575c-b9a4-ac3e99aa7732.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [goSkagit](https://goskagit.com/news/world/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_b0b61a65-0835-505d-8f3f-36a5a5dcaca8.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [Jonesboro Sun](https://jonesborosun.com/news/world/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_4edb2cd5-9ce0-5b68-8e96-db546a320b8f.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [plaindealerin.com](https://plaindealerin.com/news/wire/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_028a5f29-6453-51de-bac3-0c3950209550.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [somdnews.com](https://somdnews.com/ap/world/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_e4ef9e3c-e4d9-56c1-bf88-2e18aa13b68d.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [abc News](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/parts-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-farmers-climate-136452985) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [The National Herald](https://thenationalherald.com/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many) — In Parts of Africa, Rainmakers Face Cruel Violence by Farmers as Climate Change Vexes Many
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/life/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_51856428-09eb-5b3c-90ba-a69850417c5f.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [The Record](https://therecord.com/life/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many/article_d4f5cf4d-f0e2-5a09-904f-f18361e34dd1.html) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2026/09/15/in-parts-of-africa-rainmakers-face-cruel-violence-by-farmers-as-climate-change-vexes-many) — In parts of Africa, rainmakers face cruel violence by farmers as climate change vexes many

## Questions

**Why are rainmakers in Africa facing violence?**

Rainmakers are facing violence because farmers blame them for unpredictable weather patterns, such as droughts and floods, which are exacerbated by climate change. When rituals do not yield the expected results, farmers sometimes resort to assaults or killings.

**What specific incidents of violence against rainmakers have been reported?**

In Uganda, farmers beat a rainmaker named David Nabutsilili, breaking his femur, after receiving too much rain. In South Sudan, at least two rainmakers have been killed in recent years, one buried alive during a dry spell and another abducted and buried alive during a prolonged dry spell.

**How has rainfall changed in parts of South Sudan?**

A study found that the average annual number of rainy days in the Kapoeta region of South Sudan decreased significantly. It fell from 90 days in the 1980s to 46 days by the mid-2010s, indicating a substantial reduction in rainfall.

---

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