KAMPALA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of disaster preparedness has warned of devastating weather effects in the months up to May as the first main rain season of the year kicks off.
Esther Anyakun, minister of state of relief, disaster preparedness and refugees told reporters on Tuesday that the rain season is characterized by severe isolated thunderstorms associated with lightning and hailstorms.
These result into destructive flooding in several districts, landslides in the mountainous areas, and destructive winds leading to ravaging of plantations and houses.
The minister said 48 districts in the northeastern, eastern, western and southern parts of the country are at high risk of waterlogging, windstorms and landslides.
Anyakun warned that the widening long crack on the slopes of Mountain Elgon in the eastern part of the country requires attention because it may result into a catastrophic slope failure.
She said some parts of the country are already suffering the effect of the 2019/2020 rain seasons which led to internal displacement of people due to flooding and rising of water levels of lakes.
The minister said government will carry out assessments and issue advisories to communities in high risk areas for temporary relocation.
"Priority one in this respect will be to support families in safer areas to provide refuge for relatives/neighbors in the high risk zones," she said.
"Government will mobilize funds to ensure adequate and essential medicines are stocked in the high risk districts where roads are always being affected to ensure steady flow of medical services," the minister added. ■