Robert Kwesiga the Secretary General of Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has called upon Members of Parliament (MPs) to always attain adverse knowledge about disasters and climate change for informed consent while legislating Bills around them.
According to Kwesiga, MPs are key stakeholders who should have the right information about disasters and how to use forecast financing plus early action in order to make a difference.
“When Parliamentarians have the right information, in times of appropriating funds they can easily understand and make it happen” Kwesiga added.
While he spoke at the Uganda Red Cross Society engagement with the Members of Parliament at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday, The Secretary-General also noted that engagements of the kind should be a continuous citing that every term of office attracts new legislators.
Kwesiga also articulated that such engagements will help in effective coordination on how to earlier evacuate people in times of risk and disasters.
Kirungi Raymond the disaster preparedness officer in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) noted that the government is committed to playing its role in the lives and livelihoods of persons and communities and also in ensuring that disasters affecting communities are reduced.
“We are appreciative of the work of Uganda Red Cross Society and we remain committed to working with partners to ensure that the resilience of many communities remains to buffer” Raymond highlighted.
Raymond also added that as OPM their role remains to coordinate disaster preparedness and management in the country and with partners they have been releasing the Uganda National Integrated Early Warning system bulletin on a monthly basis which they believe that it’s one thing that can change things.
Hon. Biyika Laurence Songa the Member of Parliament Ora County West Nile and also chairperson Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change noted that it’s important for all stakeholders to come together when disasters happen because if they strike everyone irrespective of culture, political party, tribe and religion suffers.
“There responsibilities and roles different stakeholders have to play, on Parliament side we are committed to seeing that we live no gap in the law legislation as far as climate disasters are concerned” Songa added.
The Ora county legislator who also represented the chair of Disaster Risk Reduction also highlighted that there is a need for government to expand the revenue base of the country and make resilient infrastructure that can withstand when disasters happen.
“The cost of treatment of disasters is always a lot, the amount of money we now spend to address food hunger in Karamoja is high especially in this economy with little money” Songa highlighted.
The legislator also appealed to all stakeholders to well address climate disasters in the country and if this is not done all investments will be lost.
Alex Byarugaba the Member of Parliament Isingiro South noted that the way forward is government to prioritize areas for funding because as Parliament they do their work of making the laws but the executive fails to implement them.
“The translation in this country is so poor, we have very good policies but talking action is still poor “Byarugaba added.
Several Members of Parliament that attended the engagement hailed the Uganda Red Cross Society for its work in disaster preparedness and they promised to pass the Disaster Bill.
