Kasese NGOs Shift Focus to Disaster Prevention

Non-governmental organizations operating in Kasese District have resolved to strengthen disaster preparedness, reflecting a growing shift from responding to emergencies after they occur to preventing their devastating impacts before they happen.

The initiative comes as Kasese continues to experience recurring floods, landslides and mudslides that have repeatedly displaced thousands of people, destroyed crops, homes, roads and bridges, particularly in vulnerable sub-counties along the slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains.

The organizations, led by Caritas Kasese with support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the World Food Programme (WFP), are training humanitarian workers and government officials on disaster risk reduction, early warning systems and coordinated emergency planning ahead of the next rainy season.

Rev. Fr. Mbusa Anyasio, the Director of Caritas Kasese, said humanitarian agencies can no longer afford to focus solely on relief after disasters strike. “We are shifting from reacting to disasters to preventing them. The idea is to equip organizations and communities with the knowledge and capacity to reduce risks before lives are lost”

Anyasio said stronger collaboration between humanitarian agencies and district authorities would improve disaster response, particularly in high-risk areas such as Karusandara, Kitholhu, Kyarumba and Bwesumbu, where flooding and landslides occur almost every rainy season.

Kasese District Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Mustafa Kikusa said the district remains one of Uganda’s most disaster-prone areas because of its geography and changing weather patterns. He noted that heavy rains experienced around March and August frequently trigger floods, landslides and crop destruction, while also damaging roads and other public infrastructure.

Although disasters cannot be completely prevented, Kikusa said authorities are investing in mitigation measures, including improving drainage systems and supporting irrigation and water management initiatives to reduce the impact of extreme weather.

Joackim Baluku, Caritas Kasese’s Programme Manager for Disaster Management, said humanitarian organizations are now prioritizing joint planning before disasters occur instead of responding independently after emergencies.

He said the organizations are exploring water harvesting technologies to reduce destructive runoff while planning public awareness campaigns targeting communities living in disaster hotspots.

The Catholic Diocese of Kasese also pledged logistical support for future disaster preparedness activities, including providing vehicles and fuel to facilitate rapid assessments whenever disasters occur. Kasese has experienced some of Uganda’s worst natural disasters over the past decade.

Seasonal flooding from rivers descending the Rwenzori Mountains has repeatedly submerged communities, while landslides have claimed lives and displaced thousands of residents.

Climate experts have warned that increasingly intense rainfall associated with climate change is making such disasters more frequent and severe, prompting government and humanitarian agencies to place greater emphasis on preparedness, early warning systems and community resilience rather than emergency relief alone.