KAMPALA – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has urged Members of Parliament to use their legislative, budgeting, oversight and representation roles to help Uganda prevent climate-related disasters and build resilience.
Tayebwa said climate change can no longer be treated as an issue for speeches and conferences but requires concrete action and investment in long-term solutions.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while opening a two-day induction for members of the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change and the Committee on Natural Resources at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.
He said the 12th Parliament will be judged by how effectively it prevents climate-related disasters and protects future generations.
Tayebwa urged MPs to ensure that climate considerations are integrated into government programmes and public spending, warning that investments could be wiped out if the effects of climate change are not addressed.
He said Parliament should ensure that government focuses more on preventing climate-related disasters than spending public resources responding to their aftermath.
He cited recurring flooding along River Nyamwamba in Kasese, where communities are repeatedly displaced, as an example of a problem that requires a permanent solution.
He questioned the continued annual expenditure on tents, blankets and food for communities affected by flooding and famine, instead of investing in measures that can prevent such disasters.
He also mentioned Ntoroko as a district at high risk from climate change, saying some families have already lost large portions of their land after it was submerged.
Tayebwa said climate action must also extend to agriculture, warning that changing weather patterns could undermine programmes intended to improve household incomes and food security.
He called for climate-smart agriculture, including the promotion of drought-resistant seeds, agroforestry, soil protection and better-equipped agricultural extension workers.
He said Parliament should consider tying Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to climate-smart agriculture to ensure sustainability.
He further urged Parliament to promote water harvesting in schools, hospitals and other public institutions and to explore ways of increasing the use of renewable energy.
Tayebwa said public institutions should be encouraged to generate their own electricity, including through solar installations, with surplus power potentially supplied to the national grid.
The Deputy Speaker also called for stronger oversight of forests and wetlands, saying Parliament must hold government agencies responsible for environmental protection accountable.
He said Uganda is losing about 80,000 hectares of forest cover annually, describing the situation as unacceptable.
Tayebwa also called for greater investment in weather forecasting to help farmers and communities prepare for extreme weather events.
He said the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) should be supported with equipment to provide accurate projections, adding that farmers should receive weather forecasts on their phones and in languages they understand before disasters strike.
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