Disaster Risks in Uganda

 

There is significant work currently being undertaken by the scientific community in Uganda to assess, map and monitor disaster risk.

There is significant but manageable disaster risk in Uganda.

This risk is multi-hazard: hydro-meteorological (weather related), seismological, volcanic, epidemic, pest and related food-security risk, compounded by climate change

Risk is compounded by the chronic vulnerability of much of Uganda's population: The impact of certain recent disasters, eg cholera and the floods can be directly linked to underlying vulnerability

There is significant scientific capacity in Uganda already monitoring hazards

Links between the humanitarian and scientific communities need to be strengthened and made systematic, in order to provide effective and timely early warning for disasters

We need to be better prepared for the different disaster risks.

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Hydro-meteorological (Weather related) Risks in Uganda

Presentation by Mr Aloysius Kagoro, Principal Meteorologist, Uganda Meteorological Service

Extreme hydro-meteorological events that pose potential risk include:

Droughts - the ‘Cattle Corridor’: A dry stretch of land extending from Rakai in (in the south) through Sembabule, Luwero and Soroti to Karamoja in the north east.

Floods - Flat, low lying e.g. Kasese, Soroti, Urban areas like Kampala and suburbs

Landslides – Mt Elgon area and Western Uganda Mts

Hailstorms, Thunderstorms and Lightning - Lake Victoria and surrounding areas especially at risk, but much of Uganda also at risk

Climate Change and Uganda

Presentation by Ms Jenty Kirsch-Wood, OCHA Disaster and Vulnerability Policy, Geneva

Climate change will increase frequency and intensity of weather-related hazard events (floods, storms, etc)

It will also increase likelihood of drought and desertification

There will be significant changes in the morbidity patterns of some diseases

Nine of out every ten disasters are now climate related. These trends are consistent with IPCC projections of climate change impacts

The poor will be disproportionably affected and are more likely to fall back on emergency humanitarian assistance in the face of climate-related disasters.

Between 2000 and 2004, 1/19 people living in the developing world was affected by a climate disaster. The comparable figure for OECD countries was 1 / 1,500 people: a risk differential of 79.

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Seismic and Volcanic Risk in Uganda

Presentation by Mr Isaiah Tumwikirize and Mr Zachary Baguma, National Seismological Network.

Epidemic Risk in Uganda

Presentation by Dr Joseph Wamala, Ministry of Health

Cholera – northern Uganda, north-western Uganda, areas around Lake Albert and Lake Edward

Bacillary dysentery – Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Moroto (linked to overcrowding and lack of hygiene)

Plague - West Nile esp. the districts of Arua, Nebbi

Meningococcal meningitis - West Nile, Northern, and Karamoja regions

Viral hemorrhagic fever diseases (Ebola and Marburg) - Gulu, Amuru, Masindi, Mbarara, and Bundibugyo

Malaria stable, year round (perennial) malaria transmission at high levels with relatively little seasonal variability Measles.

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Pest and other Food Security Related Risk

Presentation by Madame Annunciata Hakuza, Early Warning Unit, Ministry of Agriculture

Pest populations are affected by environmental factors: weather (humidity, rainfall, light and wind).

Most fungal and bacterial diseases increase with humidity. Frequency and intensity is seasonal and depends on rainfall amounts

Locusts breed in desert areas, and need seasonal rains for laying eggs and development mainly feed on grass and cereals. The vulnerable areas are Northern and North Eastern Uganda.

Geographical areas: Pests are usually specific to particular crops. All areas where host crops grow are risk areas.