Uganda, Kenya lay strategies on urban resilience to climate risks

BUSIA - Uganda and Kenya have concluded the inaugural Uganda-Kenya joint meeting on Urban Resilience. Held from June 3–5th, the cross-border meeting was hosted in Busia, Uganda. 

The meeting brought together high-level delegations from both nations to address shared challenges posed by climate change and urban disaster risks in the different municipalities of Busia.

Co-chaired by  Ambassador Eunice Kigenyi, Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi, and Joel Wamalwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency for Kenya, the meeting marked a milestone in regional cooperation and environmental diplomacy.

The Uganda team included officials from the  Ministries of:  Foreign Affairs, Works and Transport, Local Government, Water and Environment, Health, staff at Uganda High Commission, Nairobi, plus the Busia Municipality leadership comprising the RDC, Member of Parliament, Mayor, Town Clerk, and district council Speaker.
The Kenyan delegation included officials from the Ministries of Water, Interior, plus Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

Katunda called for harmonising cross-border policies and strengthening institutional coordination to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. (Courtesy Photo)

Tackling shared climate vulnerabilities

In his opening address, Mr. Fenard M. Katunda, Town Clerk of Busia Municipality (Uganda), emphasised the region's growing exposure to climate-induced disasters.

He cited rapid urbanisation, deforestation, and encroachment on wetlands as major contributors to recurrent flooding and infrastructural damage, exacerbated by weak stormwater systems, poor waste management, and limited public awareness.

Katunda called for harmonising cross-border policies and strengthening institutional coordination to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

The bilateral session surfaced a range of pressing concerns impacting both municipalities.

These include:

· Frequent Flooding due to overwhelmed drainage systems.

· Environmental Degradation, including deforestation and wetland loss.

· Public Health Risks from waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.

· Economic Disruptions impacting cross-border trade and infrastructure.

· Inadequate Early Warning Systems and limited disaster preparedness.

· Weak Enforcement of existing environmental regulations.

Reaffirming the need for joint action,  Amin Sadik Agele, Mayor of Busia Municipality, called for the creation of collaborative frameworks for flood management and climate adaptation stating that “the challenges we face do not respect borders. Our response must be as unified as the threats are shared,”  he added.

Relatedly, Mr. Kisuyi Abdul Nasser, Assistant Resident District Commissioner, advocated for the development of joint Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and a regional action plan grounded in community involvement.

Diplomacy driving solutions

Ambassador Kigenyi hailed the bilateral engagement and Kenya’s mobilisation of a multi-sectoral team. 

Uganda’s delegation, she noted, included teams from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Local Government, Health, Environment, and Transport, a representation which she says highlights the country’s comprehensive approach,h where she highlighted how “the past efforts were often limited by fragmentation and funding gaps.’ 

The meeting, supported by partners like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), she said, is a platform offering a renewed path toward resilience.
Ambassador Kigenyi also highlighted the importance of leveraging frameworks such as the Uganda-Kenya Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC).

Kenya’s delegation leader, Wamalwa, reaffirmed Kenya’s dedication to a resilient and sustainable urban future for the Busia region. 

Expressing gratitude for the support of development partners Republic of Lorea, Luxembourg and Denmark, Mr. Ian King, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Uganda, said that the project support resulted from discussions with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, Hon. John Mulimba. 

The session concluded with mutual declaration to: Develop a comprehensive cross-border resilience strategy, and establish harmonised urban planning and environmental policies. (Courtesy Photos)

Way forward

The session concluded with mutual declaration to: Develop a comprehensive cross-border resilience strategy, and establish harmonised urban planning and environmental policies.

It was also agreed that the joint teams should pursue technical and financial partnerships to support the implementation of resilience-building projects across the region.

Both delegations also agreed to institutionalise the bilateral engagement as an annual platform for reviewing progress, sharing best practices, and reinforcing collaboration on climate adaptation and urban disaster risk reduction in the Busia municipalities. 

The three-day engagement was organised with the support of UNDP with funds from the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Luxembourg and Denmark.