Uganda: Regional disaster officers deployed

Following the recent floods in Uganda, the government will send regional risk disaster officers to the affected areas. "It extremely critical to train district leaders in disaster risk reduction so as to form disaster committees in the districts," told state minister of refugees and disaster preparedness, Musa Ecweru to participants of an international workshop on Learning from Mega Disasters-the Great East Japan Earthquake and implementing lessons learnt in Uganda, reports New Vision.

World Bank disaster risk management specialist, Francis Muraya added that "there is an urgent need for a paradigm shift in the country's response to climate extremes from emergency response to drought and floods to enhancing resilience of vulnerable communities."

While the chairperson of disaster Parliamentary platform, MP Alex Byarugaba emphasized the importance of training lawmakers in disaster management as they legislate and appropriate the budget.Finally, Mr Byarugaba also asked the government to introduce early warning systems.