A devastating toll of 1,066 lives lost in Uganda between January and November 2023 underscores the severe impact of natural and man-made calamities, according to a report presented at a clean air Africa stakeholder engagement meeting in Kampala. The report, compiled by the department of relief, disaster preparedness, and management in the Office of the Prime Minister, disclosed that the country experienced a total of 1,088 disaster events. Accidents accounted for the majority at 51.1%, followed by fires at 22.9%, drowning at 9.6%, arson at 3.2%, electrocution at 3.1%, cattle rustling at 2.6%, and other incidents at 7.0%.
A breakdown of the fatalities revealed that 69.3% of the 1,066 deaths resulted from accidents, 14.3% from drowning, 3.7% from cattle rustling, 3.5% from electrocution, 2.3% from fires, and 6.9% from other causes.
The first national risk and vulnerability atlas, launched in 2021, identified disaster hotspots in Uganda, with the general population, health centers, schools, residential areas, roads, warehouses, and water supply systems being the most at-risk facilities.
The findings highlighted specific regions prone to certain disasters, such as drought affecting Karamoja, Teso, West Nile, and cattle corridor areas, while floods dominated Elgon, Bukedi, Rwenzori, Teso, Karamoja, Buliisa, Nakasongola, Acholi, and West Nile regions.
Lightning hotspots were identified in Bushenyi, Mitooma, Rukungiri, Kanungu, Busia, Namutumba, Bukwo, Kalangala, Buvuma, Adjumani, Nwoya, Amuru, and Lamwo districts. The western arm of the Rift Valley, Kagera area, and around Lake Victoria basin were pinpointed as more likely to experience earthquakes. Additionally, hailstorms were common in Elgon, Bukedi, Central, and Western areas, while windstorms prevailed in Bukedi, Teso, Ankole, Bunyoro, Rwenzori, and South Western Uganda.
