Lango sub-region faces gaps in local disaster preparedness

13 October 2026, 8:04 pm

By Baker Okello

Lower local governments across the Lango sub-region are facing challenges in disaster preparedness and response, with several leaders reporting a lack of dedicated disaster management committees at the sub-county level.

The concerns emerge as Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on October 13, with local leaders calling for stronger coordination, improved preparedness and effective disaster response mechanisms.

Radio Wa News Desk engaged local government leaders across the sub-region to assess their readiness to manage disasters, including violent storms, flooding and the destruction of food crops.

In Amolatar District, the LC3 Chairperson of Nalobwoyo Sub-county, Ocen Alfred Yubu, cited poor coordination between district and sub-county structures, saying the district had not deployed a technical team to facilitate the formation of local disaster management committees.

Ocen explained that violent weather conditions on Lake Kyoga frequently expose fishing communities to danger, with strong winds and sudden storms capable of capsizing small fishing boats. He added that heavy storms also damage semi-permanent houses, leaving families homeless and displaced.

In Dokolo District, the LC3 Chairperson of Adeknino Sub-county, Odur JP, said the sub-county relies on a disaster management committee established at the district level.

Odur appealed to residents to avoid constructing buildings and cultivating crops along vulnerable lake shorelines, warning that such activities could expose communities to the effects of rising water levels and other related hazards.

Meanwhile, in Kwania District, the LC3 Chairperson of Nambieso Sub-county, Okori Ambrose, said the sub-county had designated an individual to collect data on households affected by disasters.

He explained that the information would help authorities document the impact of disasters and provide evidence to support interventions whenever water levels rise and threaten nearby communities.

In Otuke District, the LC3 Chairperson of Okwang Sub-county, Ogwal Tonny Blair, raised concern over the destruction of food crops caused by torrential rains and hailstorms.

Ogwal said the extreme weather conditions have damaged staple crops such as cassava, beans, simsim and maize, putting affected households at risk of food shortages and worsening their livelihoods.

The LC5 Chairperson of Alebtong District, Ambrose Ongom Ongom, said the District Disaster Management Committee was fully operational under the technical leadership of the Chief Administrative Officer.

However, Ongom acknowledged that disaster management structures at lower local government levels remained less established. He said the district consequently relies on sub-county chiefs and Community Development Officers to collect information from affected communities and support disaster response efforts.

The concerns raised by local leaders highlight the need to strengthen disaster preparedness at the grassroots level, particularly in communities vulnerable to flooding, violent storms and crop destruction.

As Uganda marks the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, leaders across Lango are calling for stronger coordination between district and sub-county authorities, functional local disaster management structures and improved early-warning systems to help communities prepare for, withstand and recover from disasters.