Uganda Disaster Preparedness Workshop

Summary of Proceedings

 

Why this Workshop?

 

Globally, the number of people affected by disasters is on the increase. As the floods of 2007 showed, Uganda is amongst those countries feeling the force of this alarming trend.

To help limit the impact of disasters on the population of Uganda, this workshop seeks to strengthen in-country disaster response preparedness, by bringing together various experts to:

1. Undertake a full disaster risk analysis for Uganda, including determining priority disaster risk themes and geographical zones

2. Establish a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan, broken down into sectors, to deal with the priority disaster risks

Both the Disaster Risk Analysis and the Preparedness Plans will be made available to participants and distributed widely to other interested parties.

Participants in this workshop included the Office of the Prime Minister, other line ministries including Agriculture and Health, the scientific community, representatives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Uganda Red Cross Society, humanitarian actors (UN and NGOs), faith-based actors, development actors and donors.

The workshop was opened by Professor Tarsis Kabwegyere, Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, and a welcoming speech was made by Mr Percy Masika, the acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Uganda.

Workshop Programme

March 27:

1. Workshop opening

2. Overview of disaster response preparedness, including an overview of the Hyogo Framework for Action

3. Disaster Risk Analysis, including presentations on:

a. Brief overview of risk analysis theory

b. Hydro-meteorological risks including drought, flood, hailstorms, landslides, and lightning

c. Climate Change and Uganda

d. Seismic and Volcanic Risk in Uganda

e. Epidemic Risk

f. Pest and other Food Security-related Risk

h. Gender considerations in disaster response

March 28:

1. Review of Day one

Overview of Disaster Response issues:

2. Overview of Lessons Learnt from Teso Floods

3. Hyogo Framework for Action Indicator Package

4. Sphere standards and Minimum Standards in Education in Emergencies, Chronic Crises and Early Reconstruction

3. Human Rights Based Approach

7. Oxfam's Disaster Preparedness programming

6. Practical overview of disaster response preparedness actions

9. Group work to determine inputs for the preparedness plan for priority disaster risks.

Results

The draft Uganda Disaster Preparedness Plan, developed during the workshop, and aimed at supporting Uganda to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action, is attached to this CD. Priority Actions under this plan need to be implemented by the end of 2009 - with some urgent actions to be implemented almost immediately. The Risk Analysis, based on the presentations made during the workshop by the scientific community, is attached to the Preparedness Plan.