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Government Must Focus on Disaster Prevention, Not Just Response

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  • As a result, we trust that the government and relevant parties will implement early alert mechanisms, advocate for the rehabilitation of wetlands, protect the natural surroundings, and establish robust infrastructure, along with various long-term measures.

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The extraordinary flooding affecting parts of eastern and northern Uganda goes beyond being just a natural disaster; it serves as a critical alert highlighting the delicate balance between ecological damage, insufficient facilities, and the disregard for at-risk populations.

The recent flood, caused by River Manafwa overflowing following non-stop rainfall, has forced over 7,000 residents to leave their homes in six sub-counties within Butaleja District, such as Himutu, Maiz-Masa, Kachonga, Butaleja Town Council, and Nawanjofu.

Referred to by the local chairman as “the most severe flooding our region has experienced,” the rising water levels have flooded regions that were once unaffected, highlighting the magnitude of this catastrophe.

Residences, septic pits, educational institutions, and large areas of farmland, featuring various crops such as corn, wheat, legumes, tubers, and manioc, have been flooded, endangering food supply, hygiene, and learning opportunities.

The Butaleja-Mbale highway is still closed, disrupting regional trade and forcing expensive alternative routes via Abaka and Tororo.

People’s means of survival are ruined, and both health care and education remain uncertain. The most recent flooding is not an unusual event and could have been anticipated. For many years, Butaleja’s flat, low-lying area has acted as a natural reservoir for water flowing down from Mount Elgon, worsened by tree cutting and sediment buildup.

Human actions including farming near riversides, intrusion into marshy areas, and intensive farming methods have worsened floods, diminishing natural barriers and blocking waterways. Despite early warning systems for floods being put in place in 2015, they have stopped working; upkeep was halted from 2016 onward, leaving people unprepared.

Although the catastrophe happens repeatedly each year, the government’s reaction has been delayed and disorganized. Locals have requested the construction of riverbanks alongside River Manafwa, essential facilities that might reduce upcoming crises, yet their demands continue unanswered.

For example, initiatives like cultivating bamboo to reinforce soil and offer inherent protection against flooding demonstrate potential; however, these approaches necessitate large-scale implementation, collaboration, and financial support.

The hardship faced in Butaleja should not be seen simply as bad luck. It stems from poor environmental management, lack of political action, and broken institutions. Many people are still uprooted, fields have been ruined, schools submerged, and streets blocked, but we keep depending on quick fixes instead of long-term answers.

However, the answer lies in rehabilitating wetlands, implementing protective buffers, funding early alert mechanisms, constructing levees, rejuvenating rivers, and establishing robust infrastructure. Risk mitigation is crucial, not an option. It must be addressed before the following deluge occurs.


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