The Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Eng. Hillary Onek, has revealed that the ministry wants Shs 66Bn as a ‘short-term measure to respond to bad weather effects.’
According to reports, bad weather has in the recent past had more than a million people displaced and at least twenty people dead, with more disaster being predicted by observers.
Speaking to media on Thursday, Minister Onek said that mothers and children have been the most affected and have a wide range of needs ranging from lack of clothes, food and other basic needs to cope with the bad weather amidst displacement.
“The problem is even expanding to other areas that have never been affected before. For short-term measures, we are requesting for Shs 66 billion from the Ministry of Finance.”
Minister Onek
As a means of ensuring good usage of the funds, the Ministers says that the Shs 66Bn will be managed by districts that have been affected by the floods and displacements and acknowledged that the ministers of state and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) will monitor the funds to ensure that there is no theft or corruption.
According to Uganda’s Meteorological Authority, heavy torrential rains are expected to grace the nation until December.
Onek said that government will continue sending out warning messages to the high risk areas to inform the people that heavy rains are on and they should be on alert..
