A recently rehabilitated valley dam, in Getome Sub-county, in Katakwi District. The dam holds 180,000 cubic meters of water.

In a significant stride towards disaster prevention and community resilience, the Katakwi District local authorities received completed flood anticipatory action works, thanks to collaborative efforts spearheaded by FAO in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister and funded by the Kingdom of Belgium.

These efforts are geared towards strengthening community resilience and enhancing living standards in the face of environmental adversities.

Under the “Strengthening flood early warning, preparedness, and anticipatory action in hot-spot areas in Uganda,” with a contribution of USD 1 million from the Kingdom of Belgium. The initiative aimed to mitigate the anticipated impacts of floods, which pose a significant risk to communities across the country.

Ocorimongin market, located in Katakwi, serves as a hub for food and livestock trade in the region. Despite its significance, the market faces challenges during the rainy season, with runoff water causing disruptions and posing hygiene hazards. To address these issues, FAO, in partnership with Red Cross Society Uganda, undertook a comprehensive rehabilitation effort.

Through a Cash-for-Work modality, FAO engaged nearly 650 individuals from the local community to enhance drainage conditions around the market square. Manual excavation works were carried out to improve drainage channels, while mechanized construction activities involved grading, gravelling, and compaction of market grounds. These efforts aim to mitigate waterlogging and ensure a conducive environment for trade activities.

Geoffrey Omolo, Chairperson of the market management committee, expressed satisfaction with the improvements, stating, “The works on our market have not only elevated its status but also guaranteed good hygiene for us who trade in this market.”

Further upstream, the Cheele dam plays a crucial role in providing water for livestock keeping in Katakwi. However, over the years, the dam has deteriorated, leading to flooding downstream and water scarcity upstream. Recognizing the dam's significance for the local community, FAO initiated rehabilitation works to address these challenges.

The project involved mechanized repairs to the dam structure, including constructing a stone-pitched spillway to regulate water flow. Grass planting along the banks was implemented to prevent soil erosion and enhance the dam's resilience. The renewed infrastructure not only ensures reliable water sources for livestock but also opens avenues for additional benefits, such as aquaculture development to improve nutrition and address malnutrition challenges.

Emmanuel Okwii, a beneficiary of the rehabilitation projects, expressed gratitude for the initiatives, stating, “Learning new skills to prepare for floods and being part of improving the market has given our community a sense of control and hope.”

John Emmanuel Akori, a local cattle keeper, emphasized the positive impact of the interventions on animal welfare and livelihoods, stating, “Our animals used to die because of lack of water, but with FAO’s intervention, we have hope of developing our animals.”

Dominique Reumkens, a Programme Specialist at FAO, highlighted the urgency of such interventions in the face of escalating climate-related risks. He emphasised the importance of anticipatory actions in mitigating the adverse impacts of extreme weather events, such as El Niño-induced floods, which threaten lives, livelihoods, and food security in Uganda.

Commitment to Resilience

The rehabilitation projects in Katakwi highlight FAO's dedication to boosting resilience and promoting sustainable livelihoods in Uganda's flood-prone areas by proactively addressing issues before disasters occur. Through these anticipatory actions, FAO aims to build a resilient future where communities can thrive despite environmental challenges.

The project, implemented between August 2023 and March 2024, targeted ten districts in Teso, Rwenzori, and Mount Elgon regions, identified as high-risk areas based on exposure, vulnerability, and historical flood occurrences. Working closely with District Local Governments and leveraging insights from the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Management of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), FAO directed its efforts towards critical flood control infrastructure, including rivers and drainage channels.

The project provided support to 13,063 vulnerable farming households (78,375 individuals) from August 2023 to March 2024 in the Rwenzori region, Mt. Elgon, and Teso regions. These areas are prone to flooding, and the project aimed to help these households cope with the floods and recover quickly. The initiative provided early warning information and immediate anticipatory actions to rehabilitate the critical flood control infrastructure around homesteads and rivers.

 In the Mt. Elgon Region, the project mapped the flood critical hotspots in Mbale, Butaleja, Sironko, Bulambuli, Manafwa, and Namisindwa and provided early warning information. In the Rwenzori region, the project desilted 810 meters of river Kirumya in Bundibugyo, constructed 550 meters of flood protection dykes on the banks of river Semuliki, and rehabilitated 3 km of a drainage channel running through Kasese town. In Teso, the project rehabilitated Ocorimongin Market and Cheele dam.

 To support post-harvest management, FAO distributed preparedness packages comprising of storage bags and hand tools to build makeshift elevated storage platforms. The project also provided training on platform construction and post-harvest management.