MPs, CSOs want government to invest in disaster preparedness

Currently, even though the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has come up with an Environment and Social Safeguards Policy and prepared procedures and guidelines for implementation and management of social risks, implementation challenges still exist.

These include among others, lack of enough funds to carry out monitoring on the implementation of safe guards, lack of adequate capacity of contractors and consultants, and limited capacity of UNRA.

The Civil society and the MPs recommended a review of the designs of roads that are yet to be constructed to consider the occurrence of flooding during the rainy season. Advice for UNRA “UNRA should put more emphasis on drainage channels and systems such that the roads constructed do not become a threat to the public,” said Vincent Woboya, vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation also Budadiri East Mp.

MPs called upon government to partner with local and national Civil Society Organizations with support from international NGOs who have the potential to play an important role in supporting an effective response to climate change in Uganda.

Government has also been advised to start the process of upgrading and restoring degraded wetlands, correcting conflicting land and environmental laws, and building capacity for both National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).