Government has to increase funding to the Disaster Preparedness Ministry, to boost disaster management in Uganda. Hon. Lilian Aber

KAMPALA: The incoming State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness Hon. Lilian Aber, has asked the government to set funds aside so the Department swiftly responds to natural emergencies in Uganda.

Hon. Aber who doubles as the women’s MP Kitgum District was speaking after receiving instruments of power today Tuesday from her predecessor, Esther Anyakun.

The Minister said that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has to prioritize allocating funds to the Department to enable her office to swiftly respond to Disaster emergencies in the country.

“We need to prioritize funding for the disaster, because these are things that are bound to happen and you don’t know when they will happen, when it’s raining it’s common that a lot of things happen and we may not be able to respond to the expectations because of the limited funds” said Hon. Lilian Aber.

Speaking after handing over office Esther Anyakun who was in a recent Cabinet reshuffle transferred to the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development as the State Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations said that the Disaster Department depended much on doner givers with minor funding.

She emphasized a need of the government to prioritize allocating funds to the Sector to enable it quickly respond to disasters that happen normally Un Expected and pledged to Keep working closely with the new Minister in addressing challenges within the Ministry.

“The Disaster Preparedness remains the most challenging department due to the little funding, as of the time I came to office, we were getting very little funds from the donors. But we will keep supporting you so that the donors have to earmark funds to Uganda and also increase the funding to enable you to manage the office” said Esther Anyakun.