UPDF, Government Agencies To Conduct Joint Fire Disaster Response Exercise

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), in partnership with government ministries, agencies and humanitarian organisations, have concluded a two-day Concept Development Conference aimed at developing a joint concept for a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) at the Headquarter Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability in Jinja, to strengthen preparedness and coordination in responding to fire disasters.

The conference brought together representatives from the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Police Force and Uganda Red Cross Society.

Speaking at the conference, Chief of Staff at HQ URDC, Brigadier General Flavia Byekwaso, said the meeting was intended to develop a realistic and coordinated concept for the proposed disaster response and management TTX.

She said the exercise will test the preparedness, coordination, decision-making and response capabilities of participating stakeholders in managing a fire disaster.

“We are developing URDC into a Centre of Excellence for Disaster Response and Management for the region, leveraging the achievements gained from previous exercises,” Brig Gen Byekwaso said.

The conference also laid the groundwork for a TTX scheduled for December 2026, which will bring together personnel from the UPDF, police and other government departments and agencies.

The exercise will use a simulated fire disaster scenario based on Jinja City and the wider Busoga Sub-region to assess inter-agency preparedness and strengthen coordination and collaboration among emergency responders.