UPDF Unites Stakeholders To Strengthen Disaster Management Strategies

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), through its Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (URDC), has commenced a three-day planning conference designed to enhance disaster response and management efforts.

Dubbed “Okoa Maisha,” the conference seeks to validate and align the disaster management capabilities of the URDC and UPDF, pinpoint areas for improvement, and formulate effective response strategies. Taking place at the URDC headquarters in Jinja, the event runs from 15 to 17 January 2025.

Brigadier General Ernest Nuwagaba, Commander of the URDC and Exercise Director, underscored the critical role of the conference in refining disaster response mechanisms. “Disaster management is one of the functions of UPDF. We must ensure that this role is retained and executed in collaboration with other government agencies to achieve our objectives,” he remarked.

Highlighting Uganda’s susceptibility to disasters such as landslides, floods, hunger, and pandemics, Brig Gen Nuwagaba stressed the necessity of robust planning and preparedness. He praised Uganda’s global recognition for effective disaster management, attributing this success to its forward-thinking approach to coordination and strategy.

The conference convenes representatives from various government bodies, including the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Immigration, and civilian stakeholders, fostering a united effort to strengthen disaster management across the nation.