The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has issued a public advisory on disaster preparedness as Uganda is projected to experience heavy rainfall in the month of November, urging citizens to stay alert, informed, prepared, and prioritize safety.

OPM published the public advisory on its website on November 7, 2024, stating that the Uganda Meteorological Department has forecasted continued heavy rains, particularly in the West Nile, South Western, Western, Central, and Elgon regions of the country.

In a phone interview with Catherine Ahimbisibwe, the Ag. Commissioner and Senior Disaster Preparedness and Management Officer in OPM, she asked citizens to stay alert and leave red-marked areas as soon as possible as the ministry looks forward.

“Citizens staying in red-marked areas like the steeps of mountain Elgon, Kasese, etc. should vacate those places as soon as possible. They should be aware of warning signs of landslides, such as unusual sounds like cracking or rumbling. Citizens should also avoid flooded roads and bridges, stay alert for floods and landslides, and prepare emergency kits in case of any disaster,” she said.

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Ahimbisibwe called upon all stakeholders, such as ministries and local governments of affected areas, to stock health facilities and keep their communities up to date on evacuation plans.

“Local leaders of affected areas should keep communicating to the citizens about the new developments in case of any and also ensure to encourage the locals to leave the risky areas as soon as possible,” she added.

The Office of the Prime Minister, particularly the Office of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, uses weather reports from the Meteorological Department to assess the impact of a weather disaster soon to happen and takes precautionary advice to citizens.