Patrick Jaramogi and Ganzi Muhanguzi
25 August 2008
Kampala — THE country will experience strong, severe winds and storms in the coming months. Experts say the storms will hit western and central Uganda plus parts of Kampala.
The Government yesterday warned that the storms are expected to disrupt business and leave at least 3.5 million Ugandans starving.
"We have learnt from the past that we are never prepared to address disasters. This time we are on high alert and are warning the public about the emergence of storms, hailstones and strong winds," said Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, the Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, while addressing the press at the Media Centre in Kampala.
He added that the Government had put aside sh6.7b for emergency.
Kabwegyere also announced that the Government issued orders that all buildings must have lightning conductors because the storms are expected to come with heavy lightning.
He added that they planned to table a bill in Parliament that will ensure that all public buildings have lightning conductors.
He also urged farmers, especially those who grow bananas in western Uganda, to harvest their crops early and store the produce.
"The Government has also organised training for all persons involved in disaster management. The training will teach participants the best ways of handling disasters and national calamities," Kabwegyere said.
He said the training, which opens at Hotel Africana in Kampala today, will attract participants from the ministries of education, health, agriculture, works and transport, finance and disaster management. Other organisations to attend the training are UNDP, the National Environment Management Authority, World Food Programme and World Vision.
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