Uganda disaster risk reduction budget tracking: What are the key areas of investment?

This report and accompanying briefing provide information on public investment planning for Uganda disaster risk reduction (DRR) by marking public spending on DRR-related activities in the national budget (applying the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Development Assistance Committee marker to review budget allocation). The research presents findings from a risk-sensitive review of Uganda’s budget for three financial years (FYs) (2016/17–2018/19). As well as providing a baseline for levels of public investment in DRR in Uganda, the study could also support future analysis of the DRR investment gap or a fully fledged cost benefit analysis.

Acute levels of vulnerability associated with the heavy reliance of Uganda’s economy on rain-fed subsistence agriculture make the country highly vulnerable to climate change. Vulnerability is exacerbated by low adaptive capacity, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, high levels of poverty, weak institutional capacity, low skills in climate change adaptability, inadequate skills in disaster management, lack of equipment for disaster management and limited financial resources.

Section 2 of the report sets the scene by considering Uganda’s geography, socio-economy, demographics, governance and service delivery and other elements closely related to disaster vulnerability, occurrences and recovery. Where applicable, the report draws comparison with Uganda’s four neighbours, which are members of the East African Community (EAC). Section 3 presents the country’s disaster profile and disaster risk management governance. Section 4 presents results from the research’s risk-sensitive budget review. The report concludes with a summary of findings and policy recommendations.