The opposition Democratic Party (DP) has expressed concern about the government’s strategy for managing the aftermath of disasters rather than the management of their actual causes.
On Thursday last week, the western districts of Kasese and Bunyangabu experienced heavy rainfall which lasted over four hours, causing devastating mudslides that claimed the lives of 8 people, while scores of others were displaced and several crop fields were submerged due to flash floods.
DP’s acting spokesperson Ismail Kirya says over the years hundreds of people have died and property destroyed but there still seems to be no clear strategy for prevention or support for those affected by disasters.
The National Police for Disaster Preparedness and Management under the Office of the Prime Minister
details the mechanisms and structures aimed at effective management of disasters including: vulnerability assessments, mitigation, preparedness, and response and recovery.
However, Kirya says its not enough to simply have a policy. He says parliament should come up with a supplementary budget to bail out all these people displaced and those who have lost their crops in last week’s tragedy.
“If I lose a dear one in a disaster the government should have a package for us or if I am displaced, it should be clear what I get,” Kirya said.
However he calls upon everyone to protect all wetlands and government should be an example, because there is no way government will chase people from wetlands when it’s leading in destroying them through giving them to investors.
