UPDF a Force to rely on during Disasters despite inherent risks

By Ronald Kasoma On Dec 3, 2024 26

Rt. Hon. Robina Nabbanja visiting the flooded areas in Bulambuli District to assess the extent of the damage.

By Lt Marjorie Ndagire Mutebi

The recent tragic incident involving the death of a Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) marine engineer while on duty to rescue victims from a flooded section of the Pakwach-Owliyo Road highlights the risks various stakeholders in Uganda face during times of disaster rescue efforts.

Among the risks they face are permanent injuries and sometimes death. The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF)is among the crucial players who endure risks to rescue disaster victims. While many citizens may find themselves overwhelmed during crises, UPDF officers consistently step forward to assist those in need. Consequently, the UPDF has earned recognition for its prompt intervention in emergencies, demonstrating an unwavering readiness to take action despite the inherent risks. Last month, UPDF’s rapid intervention in two significant disasters: – a situation in eastern Uganda and another in the northern Uganda exemplified their commitment to rescue operations despite the nature of the risks involved.

Tragically, during one of the two missions, a UNRA Marine Engineer who was collaborating with the UPDF lost his life. The incident happened on the Pakwach-Owliyo road in Got Apwoyo Sub-county, Nwoya District, where the UPDF had deployed two boats to rescue eight passengers trapped in a taxi that had been swept away by floodwaters from River Tangi. One of the boats capsized, resulting in the death of an engineer. Despite the setback, the UPDF team remained undeterred in their mission and successfully rescued the eight passengers from the taxi.

The flooded section of Pakwach-Owliyo road where the UPDF led efforts to rescue passengers in the mini van.

During the operation, Maj. Peter Mugisa, the Public Relations Officer for the UPDF Fourth Infantry Division, had reassured Ugandans of their commitment to doing everything possible to save the passengers. This incident highlighted one of many occasions in which UPDF officers have put their lives at risk to assist disaster victims in Uganda and outside. Consequently, as the operation on the Pakwach-Owliyo road unfolded, another mission involving the UPDF was underway in Bulambuli District, eastern Uganda, where a landslide had claimed over 60 lives. In 2022, a UPDF officer, Private Sam Mulindwa, 26, was among those killed by floods in Mbale City also in eastern Uganda.

In Bulambuli, the UPDF deployed a group of 110 officers to assist locals in retrieving the deceased from a challenging hilly terrain, where the use of heavy machinery was hampered by the poor conditions.

The UPDF Land Forces have been actively engaged in providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and emergencies, both within Uganda and in neighbouring countries. They have achieved several notable accomplishments that enhance Uganda’s security and contribute to regional stability, spanning both domestic and International contexts.

Natural disasters aside, the UPDF has continued to participate in regional peacekeeping initiatives within the continent, like the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), supporting regional allies, particularly during the civil war in South Sudan, hence playing a vital role in efforts to restore peace and stability in the nation and the continent.