MPs say government response a ‘disaster’

A map showing the location of Bududa. Google Maps

Kampala

The government rushed to Parliament yesterday to explain relief efforts it has taken to victims of the landslide disaster in Eastern Uganda, but the response drew round condemnation from several Members of Parliament.
The development came as reports trickled in that President Museveni will today visit Bududa District, where the landslides have hit hardest, for an on-the-ground assessment of the natural disaster.

Disaster Preparedness Minister Tarsis Kabwegyere informed the House that a government team of doctors, military and police officers had flown by helicopter to the disaster-hit areas yesterday morning to “provide first aid and clean drinking water for the survivors.”

He also said that the UPDF 3rd division in Mbale had dispatched an ambulance and a rescue team with “relevant equipment such as shovels, hand hoes and spades”, adding that “a trailer loaded with 26 metric tonnes of relief food” had been sent to the tragedy scene.

However, it appeared Prof Kabwegyere expected criticism over the government’s handling of the crisis, which he admitted had claimed 80 lives by last evening and displaced an estimated 3,000 people, after he told MPs: “Now is not the time to blame anyone.”

But his plea fell on deaf ears as MPs from both the opposition and the ruling NRM party criticised Prof Kabwegyere and the government’s response.

“It is true this is not the time to blame but we have always told the government that there is a serious problem there,” said Bubulo MP Fred Bukeni.

“We have told the government before to buy land and relocate these people especially those who live in the national parks who cut down trees which are used to hold the soils.”

Budadiri MP Nandala Mafabi questioned the veracity of government statement over the extent to which the floods and landslide had hit the eastern Uganda region from where he hails.

Blindfold report
“This report must have been made to blind fold us,” he said as he refuted the Minister’s report which concluded that three villages had been buried by the landslides and that 307 people were still missing.
“In Bugisu a village has 200 homes,” said the MP. “I am feeling the pain because they are not telling us the exact number of people who have died,” he added.
At one point emotions got the better of Mr Mafabi after he took a swipe at Prof. Kabwegyere and sneered at the Disaster Minister.

“We should scrap that ministry and know that we have nothing to prepare for,” he said.

“Anyway, if you look at the minister himself, he is a disaster.”

The comment prompted Makindye West MP Hussien Kyanjo to implore Speaker Edward Ssekandi to call his opposition colleague to order, a prayer the Speaker duly answered.

“Hon. Nandala, the language you used is not acceptable,” ruled the Speaker. Mr Mafabi withdrew the comment. MPs Geoffrey Ekanya, Beatrice Anywar, and Florence Ekwau blamed the government for doing little to prepare for natural disasters and said district disaster committees were non-functional.

Help survivors
Prof. Kabwegyere said the government would come up with a more comprehensive statement on the crisis, a revelation that inspired Speaker Ssekandi to suspend debate on the subject until that report is presented to the House.

“But our appeal to government is to take every step to help the people and address the needs of those who have survived,” he said.