Uganda Gears Up For Major Disaster Response Exercise In Landslide-Prone Region

Preparations are in full swing for “Okoa Maisha” (Swahili for Save Life), a major Command Post Exercise focused on disaster response operations in Uganda’s landslide-prone Bulambuli District.

The planning phase officially began with a high-level conference held at the Headquarters of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (HQ URDC) in Gaddafi Barracks, Jinja. The exercise is scheduled for August and aims to bolster both national and regional disaster preparedness, building on a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) conducted in March.

“This is a preparatory conference that will lead us to a successful command post exercise. It demonstrates our capability to respond to any disaster, not only in Uganda but also in the region,” said Brig Gen Earnest Nuwagaba, Commander HQ URDC and Director of the Exercise.

The conference brought together key stakeholders including representatives from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force (UPF), the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and several humanitarian organisations.

Notable participants included Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, Chief of Staff HQ URDC; Brig Gen Michael Ssesanga, Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA); Brig Gen Saad Katemba, Director Training Land Force; Senior Superintendent of Police Bosco Arop; Senior Superintendent of Prisons Asiimwe; Mr Gidoi Charles, Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Bulambuli District; and Mr Kumakech Charles, First Management Officer in the Prime Minister’s Office.