Contrary to the notable July heat, residents of Bugesera, one of Rwanda’s hottest and driest districts, are waking up to cooler mornings and mild afternoons. This chilly spell has sparked speculation that the Earth’s current position at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, is to blame. However, meteorologists say otherwise. Experts attribute the cool-down not to the planet’s distance from the Sun, but to a mix of persistent cloud cover and shifting seasonal wind patterns, all hallmarks of the long dry season.
“This kind of chill is typical for the dry season,” said Abias Calvin Kwizera, Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Rwanda Institute of Conservation Agriculture in Bugesera. “It’s not about aphelion as rumoured; it’s the wind patterns and cloud cover doing the work. Farmers and herders should use this cooler period to monitor livestock health closely and plan field activities accordingly.”
Debunking the Aphelion myth
As cooler weather sweeps through parts of Rwanda this July, especially in typically hot regions like Bugesera, speculation is surging on social media linking the chill to the Earth’s aphelion. But experts say the real explanation lies much closer to home.
In an official post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Rwanda Meteorological Agency dismissed the aphelion theory, stating that “Aphelion is the time the Earth is orbiting at a farther distance from the sun. It does not cause any significant effect on the temperature levels.” The post goes on to explain that aphelion is an annual phenomenon, occurs at the beginning of July, at the same time worldwide, and that this year’s occurrence was on the 3rd day of July.
Chilly mornings in Bugesera
Bugesera, a district commonly associated with scorching sun and water scarcity, is now experiencing what some residents describe as “misty mornings that feel like Musanze.”
“It’s cold, that’s why I’m wearing a sweater,” says Nizeyimana Jean de Dieu, a cyclist. “I studied in Musanze for 3 years, now is the time I have to wear a sweater the whole day like I’m back in the north.”
Nizeyimana adds, “Even the tea vendors are doing better business than usual, that says everything.”
Climate literacy in the classroom
At Groupe Scolaire Kibungo, geography teachers Gakuru JMV and Xavier Nsanzimana say this year’s chilly weather offers a real-life example of what students learn in class.
“We teach about aphelion and perihelion, the ITCZ, and seasonal cloud cover as part of Rwanda’s weather and climate system,” said Gakuru. “What’s happening now is in textbooks; seeing it unfold helps the lesson stick.”
Nsanzimana added: “Parents see social media rumours and ask their children whether they know these phenomena. This is what we want, a climate-aware community that connects what they see to what we teach.”
