By Walter Akena

In recent times, the country has witnessed disasters with consequences of epic proportions such as the floods in Mbale, landslides in Bududa and Kasese, Kisoro, and Bundibugyo districts, hunger in Karamoja region and Otuke district, hailstorm in Nwoya district and many others.

These disasters, whenever they occur, have often exposed the extent of the vulnerability of local governments in disaster preparedness, response and management.

Subject to Article 189 of the 1995 Constitution as amended, control and management of epidemics and disasters is a function of the central government.

In light of this, the fundamental question to be asked is; where are the local governments in the systems, processes, and structures of disaster management and response. Do local governments have a role to play in disaster management any way; the answer is yes.

Disasters and disaster risks manifest themselves at the local levels, local governments are therefore better placed for disaster response and management. Effective involvement of local governments contributes to constructive and efficient disaster management systems as it increases local capacity and brings in local perspectives and knowledge through local actor participation.

The National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management (2011) recognises the critical role that local governments play in disaster response and management. To emphasise these roles, the policy created the District Disaster Policy Committee, District Disaster Management Committee, and District Emergency Coordination and Operation Center as the major structures for disaster management and response in local governments. The policy further stipulates the coordination mechanisms and framework between local governments and central government in disaster response.

Local governments have often fronted the challenge of funding as their major impediment for disaster management. There is no specific budget allocation for disaster management that is released to local government by the center. As a result, the disaster management structures in local governments (DDPC, DDMC, and DECOC) have remained largely dysfunctional and unable to coordinate disaster response.

While this may be true to some extent, the challenges of local governments in disaster management transcend mere lack of funding. In any case, the Local Governments Act gives the local governments, absolute discretion over their locally generated revenue which they could invest in funding disaster management.

Beyond funding, there is also the challenge of planning for disaster management. A review of local government development plans for many districts reveals a conspicuous absence of disaster management and response plans for district local governments. Often time, because disaster management is not mainstreamed in local government development plans, disaster response has become Adhoc. It is important to note that the magnitude of the disasters is more of a result of our inadequate planning than a result of natural climatic or geological conditions.

Section 38 of the Local Governments Act, Cap 243 as amended empowers local government to enact ordinances. Using this power, district and sub-county councils can pass ordinances and bylaws to facilitate disaster management such as ordinances on environment to address climate-related disasters.

Akalo Sub-county in Kwania district for instance, passed a bylaw early this year requiring every household in the sub-county to grow at least an acre of cassava or face a fine of Shillings 100,000. This is a proactive way of addressing food insecurity which is one of the major disasters in the country. After the experience of famine last year, the most logical thing for the district councils in Karamoja and parts of Northern Uganda to do, is to enact ordinances that support food security as a long-term strategy to fight hunger.

In order to improve disaster management systems, processes, and structures in the country, it is imperative that local governments assume their central role and become proactive in disaster response and management. Disaster response and management should be mainstreamed in local government development plans.

The Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management in the OPM should coordinate with Ministries of Local Government; and Finance, Planning and Economic Development and National Planning Authority to ensure that this becomes a legal requirement for local governments.

Local government leaders should become creative in resource mobilisation for disaster management. Additionally, Office of the Prime Minister which is responsible for administration of the disaster preparedness and management fund must ensure that a portion of the fund is cascaded to local governments as conditional grants to finance disaster response.

The writer is a Project Officer, Local Government Council Scorecard Initiative at ACODE and can be reached on walter.akena@acode-u.org