Multi-Purpose Water for Climate Resilience and Irrigation Development for Livelihood Transformation(MWACRID)

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) has been developed to guide all stakeholders – including contractors, consultants, local government officials, and project beneficiaries—on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies that may arise during the construction and operational phases of the Multi-Purpose Water for Climate Resilience and Irrigation Development for Livelihood Transformation (MWACRID) Project. The project is being implemented in the sub-counties of Masindi-Port and Kigumba in Kiryandongo District, as well as Mirya and Kimengo in Masindi District, Uganda. This plan reinforces the project’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and compliance with the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) environmental and social safeguard policies. This plan ensures consistent procedures are in place across all project components to minimize risk to human health, the environment, infrastructure, and financial investment. The project will consist of two major components: a potable water supply infrastructure and an irrigation water supply system. Key features include diversion canals, intake and pump stations, treatment plants, transmission and distribution pipelines, and various support facilities such as process buildings, control rooms, electrical and maintenance buildings, administrative offices, and reservoir tanks. Each component is designed to enhance water access for both domestic use and irrigation purposes. A detailed description of these components is provided in appendix 1.

1.1.  Purpose of the Plan

The purpose of this plan is to provide measures and guidance for the establishment and implementation of emergency preparedness and response plan for the Multi-Purpose Water for Climate Resilience and Irrigation Development for Livelihood Transformation (MWACRID) Project. The purpose of the EPRP is to:

• Provide a plan, which facilitates public safety by notifying all appropriate authorities and stakeholders;
• Provide information to all stakeholders to allow for an informed evaluation to be made during emergency events;
• Provide a plan of action for foreseeable flood emergencies affecting safety of the MWACRID Project and local communities;
• Ensure all personnel and visitors are given the maximum protection from unforeseen events;
• Ensure all personnel are aware of the importance of this plan to support the protection of life and property.

The plan is intended to assist the Contractor, Employer, the local community and any other stakeholders in responding swiftly and effectively in the event of an emergency at the MWACRID Project.

This plan is primarily biased to emergency preparedness and response to MWACRID –Project water reservoirs and bulk water transmission lines and associated risks directly linked to the proposed bulk water supply infrastructure.

It is important to note that other common emergencies or risks associated with the MWACRID-P associate project’s such as marram borrow areas, water abstraction point, rock blasting for rocky areas and a host of other policies, procedures and plans that the Contractor has developed with respect to MWACRID -P.

Therefore; this Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan in a bid avoid duplication of other plans and procedures already prepared by the contractor will prioritize and discuss bulk water transmission lines and water reservoir(s) for MWACRID P, an aspect which is not exhaustively addressed in the other MWACRID P plans, procedures and policies.  As a minimum, the ‘Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan’ shall address the management of situations and scenarios resulting from the following emergency conditions as presented in Table 1-1 below: