The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi, has urged the government of Uganda to provide an update to Ugandans on its readiness to avert the inevitable occurrence of the climatic disaster.

Ssenyonyi made this call on May 6, 2024, during a plenary session following occurrences in Kenya and Tanzania where torrential rains have claimed lives and destroyed properties, which can happen in Uganda, citing rising water levels at Lake Victoria.

“My concern is that what is occurring in Kenya might very well happen here in Uganda. How prepared are we to avoid such a situation? Climate change is real. We watched the devastation in far-off countries like Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which some people felt was far away, but it is now right at our doorstep, Senyonyi noted.

According to Ssenyonyi, torrential downpours have caused devastating effects in Kenya, where over 200 people are reported dead because of heavy flooding, about 100 people are missing, 170,000 are displaced, and the situation might get worse.

Ssenyonyi further requested an update on the government’s progress in enacting the Disaster Bill, which was first presented in 2018, stating that such legislation will inform the government on how to plan and fund disaster management in Uganda.

In response, the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, asked the Minister of Disaster Preparedness to update the nation on Uganda’s preparedness to avert any eventual disaster that may happen in Uganda, following similar occurrences in Kenya and Tanzania where torrential rains have claimed lives and destroyed properties.