THE REPU BLIC OF

IMPACT OF DISASTER DAMAGE

TO

COMMUNITIES AND ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE DELIVERY

OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS IN THE COUNTRY

REPORT TO PARLIAMENT

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Eng. Hilary Onek (MP) MINISTER FOR RELIEF, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND REFUGEES

14TH MAY 2019

1 ',ffi,01)niLt- 1.0 INTRODUCTION

Rt. Hon. Speaker;

1 .1 Hon. members, are aware the current erratic rainfall characterized with storm-winds and hailstones have come after a long dry spell, Crops planted during the traditional planting season of March-April did not germinate.

1.2 Colleagues need to note that the first rains which appeared in early March were deceptive and when people attempted to plant they did not germinate and people lost their seeds.

1.3 The food shortage situation across the country got to crisis and emergency levels in the sub-regions of Karamoja, Teso, Bukedi, Busoga, Acholi, West and a large section of the Cattle Corridor; this put over 3,500,000 people in urgent need of relief food.

1.4 Having weighed the gravity of the matter, Government in its wisdom elevated the management of this challenge to be chaired by the 1s Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Gen (Rtd) Moses Ali

1.5 This was meant to bring together different sectors of Government to provide a holistic response to this emergency,

1 .6 After presenting the food/hunger situation report to Cabinet on the 6th of May 20L9, I am happy to inform Parliament that Cabinet immediately directed the release of 40bn for procurement of emergency relief food to be delivered to communities at risk. These deliveries will begin this week. t.7 Hon. Colleagues, it is sad to note that the storms that have been witnessed in about 90 districts across the country have destroyed 356 primary secondary and tertiary institutions. Cabinet at its sitting

2 ,ffi,,,Drd/s- on Monday 13th May approved shs 26.0 billion for emergency repairs and reconstruction of damaged schools. The MoES working with the District Local Governments will soon reach your schools.

1,8 Thifi three (33) districts in Central and Western parts of the Country have lost hundreds of hectares of plantations and crop especially bananas and beans due to storm-winds and hailstones. This is in addition to failed germination in the sub-regions of lGramoja, Teso, Elgon, Bukedi, Busoga, Lango , Acholi and West Nile.

1.9 Rt. Hon Speaker, Cabinet at its seating on Monday 13th May, approved shs 39.0 billion for emergency procurement of fast maturing seeds such as maize, beans, sorghum, millet, peas for quick distribution to our people in order for them to make use of the current rains.

1.10 Thirty one (31) District Health Service Systems have been affected by epidemic diseases and destructive storms including loss of the roof of Anaka Hospital.

1.11 Rt.Hon. Speaker, Cabinet also approved shs 1.605 billion for repair of the affected health facilities and for preparedness for epidemics such as cholera and meningitis.

1.12 Colleagues, over 25,500 private homes and commercial buildings have been damaged by strong winds across the country.

1.13 Recently, we unfoftunately lost 15 lives in Buyende distrist and 5 lives in neighboring Kamuli District. Government supported the bereaved families with burial expenses and will help reconstruction of their homes with 30 iron sheets and 20 bags of cement. In total 1,334 homes were damage in the two districts.

1.t4 Over the last 6 months, the Country has witnessed Drought, Strong Winds and Hailstorms, Transpoft-accidents, Fires, Lightening,

,4fi,t,nD4iLt- Human Epidemic Diseases, Crop pests and diseases, Land-conflicts, Internal Displacement and Environmental Degradation.

1.15 In the coming weeks the country is likely to witness Floods and Landslides in addition to the above.

2.O STATEMENT OF THE CURRENT DISASTER PROBLEM

2.I Colleagues, may wish to note that there are a number of causes to the increasing frequency and severity of disaster damage and losses in our country. Key amongst which are the following:

. Climate Change resulting in unpredictable rainfall; . Increased flooding resulting from drainage of and encroachment on wetlands across the country; . Poor waste disposal methods leading to blockage of drainage channels and the resultant effect on the roads; . Increased wind speed and strength resulting from cutting down of wind-breaker-trees; . Poorly constructed and also old institutional buildings and individual houses; and . Inadequate inspection and maintenance of institutional buildings and houses.

2.2 Consequently, delivery of vital services to the public has greatly been constrained as outlined hereunder:

Food Security

2.3 The current food shortage is as a result of the delayed onset of the flrst season rains for this year. Households who had planted crops according to the usual first season calendar of March never witnessed germination

2.4 Much later in April, rains arrived but was short-lived and came with destructive storm-winds and hailstones that mashed down hundreds of hectares of plantations in Central and Western parts of the Country.

4 ,r(frr,,,/)r?iLt- 2.5 B5o/o of the Population of the sub-region of Karamoja with a population of 1,200,000 people is at the emergency level of food insecurity (i.e level 4), meaning most people hardly access one meal in a day. The Karamoja subregion has witnessed only one rainfall since the year began. Efforts of our people to plant has been frustrated by rain failure. The population is surviving on wild roots and leaves.

2.6 The entry of over 30,000 heads of cattle from (Turkana) has made the situation worse in the subcounties of Morungole, Timu and Loyoro of Kaabong District and Rupa Subcounty of Moroto District. The Ik Community who do not keep cattle are heavily affected.

2.7 The Turkana displaced the Karimojong into Acholi and Lango subregions. This has resulted into loss of the remaining cassava in pafts of Acholi and Lango.

2.8 55o/o of the population of the subregions of Teso, Bukedi and Busoga are at crisis level of food insecurity (i.e level 3) meaning many people can only access one meal in a day. Due to water shoftage wildlife including bufallos invaded villages in Amuria, and Serere in search of water destroying the little crops in the gardens and driving away the residents.

2.9 50% of the Population of West Nile and a number of districts along the Cattle Corridor in Central and Western Uganda are at stress level of food insecurity (i.e level 2) meaning many families have reduced their daily food intake rations.

CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURIW

2.10 The delayed onset of first season rains, storm-winds and hailstones

2.11 High prevalence of crop diseases and pests such as african cassava mosaic, cassava brown streak and fall-army warms that affected output in Karamoja, Teso, Bukedi, Lango and parts of Busoga

5 ',|fa,o[),C/5- 2.12 Pesticides and insecticides that are too expensive for many peasant farmers

2.13 Some agricultural inputs (seeds/planting materials, pesticides & feftilizers) are of poor quality

2.14 The unpredictability of weather due to climate change is another factor

2.15 A large number of youths are engaged in gambling, betting, alcohol, watching videos, drug abuse and idleness, wasting valuable time and leaving farming to the women and the old

2.16 Excessive selling of food for non-essentials like alcohol, boda-boda, mobile phones, aiftime, etc

2.L7 Lack of post-harvest storage facilities at national and household levels

2.18 Soil exhaustion in many areas is leading to poor crop performance

DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE DELIVERY

Education

2.19 The Education Sector is one most prone to the devastating effects of disasters on children and infrastructure; and in just about the past 6 months, the District Local Governments and Authorities have reported a total of 356 Primary, Secondary Technical Institutions from across the country that have suffered destruction due, especially, to strong winds and hailstorms.

2.20 Needless, to say that some of the structures in these schools/institutions have already been found compromised as a result of poor or lack of regular maintenance because of budgetary constraints. 6 ,,MrrD4t/s- 2.21 Under the Capital Development Budget, the Ministry of Education and Sports has a provision for emergency construction with a paltry budget of UGX. 2.9 bn, which is spent on routine renovation of the most deserving cases out of the over 12,000 public primary schools; and, in accordance with approved work plans, with little room for handling emergencies arising from unforeseen disasters.

Health

2.22 The Ministry of Health has been grappling too with the challenge of health facilities destroyed by storm winds that have hit a number of Districts including Nwoya, Kotido, Katakwi, Namayingo, Ibanda, and Moyo putting the lives of up to 373,342 people at risk (as illustrated in Annex 2a).

2.23 The resources to respond to these emergencies have overwhelmed the available allocations, thus the need for special intervention and provision of additional funds,

2.24 In addition, and due to the fact that the challenge of Cholera does not attract adequate funding from Government yet even the Development Partners consider this disease a result of negligence and poor sanitation and are therefore not keen to fund its control, it presents a potential disaster that must urgently be addressed.

2.25 Cholera is characterized by sudden onset of profuse watery diarrhoea, with or without vomiting, which can rapidly lead to severe dehydration, cardiovascular collapse and death.

2.26 World Health Organization recommends cholera Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of less than 170. However, in many least developing countries, and in areas where case detestion and management is poor, CFR are well above this standard. In poorly prepared communities, CFR can range from 20-50o/o.

7 ,ffi,01l.4/Ar- 2.27 However, with appropriate case detection and management, CFR can be maintained at the recommended less than 1010.

2.28 Several districts in Uganda continued to report cholera cases and deaths. In 2018 a totalof 2,613 cases and 57 deaths were reported as shown in Annex 2b, which also illustrates the prominent risk factors. A total of 31 districts, approximately seven (7) million people have been identified for a targeted intervention to strengthen the cholera prevention and control.

2.29 The major area for containment of the disease is through provision of safe water sources, maintenance of good sanitation, implementing good hygiene practices through proper and adequate sanitation and personal hygiene, effective case management, active surveillance and good coordination of the response efforts. The hygiene promotion should be suppofted through social mobilization and by enforcement of sanitation by-laws in affected districts.

Agriculture

2.30 This Harvest from this year's main cropping season ( first rains) is expected to fall to 500/o of the comparative harvest from the first season last year.

2.31 This has largely been attributed to: . Prolonged dry spells in the country since late November 2018; . Erratic rains and hail storms since February 2019; and . Crops and livestock pests, vectors and diseases.

2.32 The most recent National Food Security Analysis Repoft (2019) carried out by OPM, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Development and Humanitarian Partners, observes that the current food security situation in the country is deteriorating leading to majority of the population drifting

8 'ffi,nD,C/s- into food stress, The food stocks are minimal both with households and stockists.

2.33 Cereals from previous harvests are getting depleted and most households are mainly accessing food from markets yet prices for all food commodities are rising leaving most poor households unable to afford. 2.34 Colleagues, Government will provide peasants fast maturing disease and drought resistant planting materials and pesticides to improve their food security situation.

Works and Transpoft

2.35 Colleagues, Works and Transport is the other Sector hit by disaster with a total of 2,603 District roads requiring major works and 157 small to medium sized bridges requiring fixing

2.36 The Ministry of Works and Transpoft, Uganda National Roads Authority and the National Road Fund are in consultation and will present a paper in Parliament of current status of roads and bridges in the Country and actions being taken.

PURPOSE OF THIS STATEMENT

The purpose of this statement, therefore, is to:

2.37 Inform Parliament about the impacts of disasters experienced over the last 6 months in the country and what Government and Individuals can do to mitigate future such occurrences.

2.38 Inform Parliament that Government has provided under emergency arrangements a total of 106,605,000,000/= (one hundred and six billion, six hundred and five million shillings) to address the disaster losses and damages to food security, education, food production and health service delivery to its citizens,

9 'ffi,01)rC/^J- 2.39 Inform Parliament of the responsibilities of, (1) the Depaftment of Disaster Preparedness and Management under Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), (2) the individual citizen and (3) sector Ministries in disaster preparedness and Management

2.40 Colleagues, the responsibilities of the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Management under Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) include: . mapping out risks and vulnerabilities; . assisting sectors build capacities to mitigate, respond and recover from disasters that fall under their dockets; . ensuring sectors including the International Community support areas /sectors overwhelmed by disaster(s); . coordinating all sectors in assisting communities and institutions build resilience against disasters; and . providing relief where there is no specific sector responsible.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS

2.41 Colleagues, allow me re-emphasise the fact that the primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and management rests with individual citizens. Government plays a supportive role through the relevant Sectors.

2.42 fhere is a lot that households and institutions can do to reduce vulnerability to disasters including:

Terracing to counter erosion, building rainwater harvesting channels in the garden and to guide water away from houses and buildings; Every home should have a minimum of ten trees around each building and several trees in gardens of weak stem crops such as Matooke; ilt. Storing food for family and not selling for non-essentials such as mobile phone data and aiftime;

10 "4fi,t,0/)rdAJ- iv. Avoiding settling in and farming risk zones such as steep slopes, river banks and wetlands; v. Appreciating the value of trees, wetlands and other water bodies and promoting sustainable use of these; vi. Sensitising youth members of each family from engaging in gambling, betting, alcohol, watching videos, drug abuse and idleness - thus wasting valuable time and leaving farming to the women and the old, which is one of the causes of food shortage; vii. Encouraging citizens to keep doing the little they can as a way of improving their resilience; viii. Establishment of a Village/Community/School/Institution Disaster Risk Management or Safety Plan; and ix. Helping Citizens to believe that their role in disaster mitigation is not hinged on availability of sufficient flnancial capacity since most of the actions listed above are normal family chores and budget-neutral. x. Every school should have a minimum of two hundred trees around the buildings and school compound to protect the buildings from storm winds.

2.43 WHY INCREASING IMPACT OF DISASTERS

The biggest challenge the country is now facing is the rampant cutting of tress and wetlands degradation. This is making windstorms to become tornadoes

It, I request Colleagues to scale up advocary for tree planting inspite of the fact that the slow pace at which trees grow cannot match rate rate of cutting mature trees down due to the rising demand for firewood, charcoal and timber.

ilt. Government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is considering establishment of factories community levels that will process bio-mass including coffee-husks, maize-cobs, dry crop- stems of maize, sorghum, millet, rice, papyrus, beans, etc into briquettes for cooking to replace firewood and charcoal.

11 ',4fi,01)rtt/.,T- iv. Currently, after harvesting hundreds of tons of dry stems of maize, sorghum, rice, millet, etc are burnt in gardens to clear space for next planting. Briquettes from these after harvest products will help reduce interest in cutting trees for firewood and charcoal

I Thank You ,,([a,,,DrdAT-

Eng. Hilary Onek Minister for relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees

t2 'ffi,n/)d/';-