Assessing the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Disaster Risk Management in Uganda

Emmanuel Kasimbazi

Environmental Law Centre, School of Law, Makerere University, Uganda

Abstract: Uganda experiences a wide range of disasters and these have various impacts on the country. Although Uganda has a legal and regulatory framework which covers disaster risk prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, the institutional framework is largely uncoordinated, reactive and sectoral. Uganda has ratified a number of international and regional legal instruments relevant to disaster response but only domesticated a few. The Government created the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees as a cabinet-level government ministry within the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda, to coordinate disaster risk reduction, prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response and the ministry also operates the National Emergency Coordination and Operations Centre (NECOC). The main purpose of this paper is to assess the legal and regulatory framework for disaster risk management in Uganda; understand how policies, laws, strategies and guidelines address the different stages of disaster management cycles; and understand how the four priorities of the Action Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have been incorporated in the legal and institutional structure for DRM. The paper provides actionable recommendations to improve DRM in Uganda and provide lessons for developing African DRM frameworks.

Key words: disaster risk reduction, prevention, preparedness, response, recovery