East African Community (EAC) Partner States have endorsed a regional preparedness and response plan to mitigate the anticipated effects of El Niño, including flooding, landslides, crop destruction, livestock losses and weather-related disease outbreaks.
The plan, adopted following an extraordinary meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence, Inter-State Security and Foreign Policy Coordination held from November 2nd to 6th, 2026, outlines coordinated interventions for Partner States and the EAC Secretariat, with implementation expected over the next two months.
The framework seeks to strengthen regional cooperation, improve early warning systems and enhance preparedness to minimise the potential humanitarian, agricultural and economic consequences of the anticipated weather phenomenon.
Uganda participated in the five-day meeting through a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), led by the Minister of State for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama.
He was accompanied by the ministry’s Undersecretary, Mary Aacha Orikiriza, and Assistant Commissioner for Nutrition Food, and Animal Feed Security Investment, Julius Twinamasiko.
Ugandan officials also assumed leadership roles during the technical deliberations. Twinamasiko chaired the meeting of experts and senior officials, while Orikiriza presided over the session involving Permanent Secretaries.
The ministerial session was chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.
