Officials from the Office of the Prime Minister's Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, and Coordination (Disaster Management Department) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have conducted a seminar aimed at raising awareness on disaster risk reduction within communities.
The training, which took place on March 25, 2025, in Kigoma Ujiji Municipality, was attended by 50 participants, including Ward Executive Officers, Village Executive Officers, Street Executive Officers, and members of Disaster Management Committees at the ward, village, and street levels.
During the opening session, Ms. Petronila Gwakila, the Environmental Officer representing the Kigoma Ujiji Municipal Director, stressed the timely importance of the training.
"This training comes at a critical time," she said, "as our municipality is expecting rainfall that often causes various disasters. These weather events disrupt the daily activities of our citizens and affect their livelihoods. Therefore, this training will help raise awareness on how to manage disasters when they occur, allowing us to better respond and protect our communities."
She added, "As we have received expert trainers on disaster management, I urge everyone to listen closely. This issue is crucial, as floods, in particular, frequently impact our areas. With the rains already starting, we are already witnessing some of the effects. Let's take this opportunity to learn how we can safeguard ourselves and our communities from such challenges."
Deputy Commissioner Hamisi Rutengo, Coordinator from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, and Coordination, outlined the purpose of the Disaster Management Law. "The law is designed to ensure that disaster management activities are carried out effectively," he explained. "It emphasizes the need for professional advice and the guidance of leaders to minimize the impact of disasters."
He went on to say, "Seminars like this one serve as a reminder of how to prepare for disasters before they happen, how to respond during the event, and how to manage recovery after the event. We are here to build capacity at all levels, from individual to national. The government is committed to reducing preventable loss of life, which is why we bring these seminars to you. Our goal is for you to take this knowledge back to your communities and help educate others, reducing the impact of disasters and saving lives."
Mr. Reuben Mbugi, Assistant Project Officer from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), highlighted the seminar's connection to a broader project aimed at disaster risk reduction in the Kigoma region. "This training is part of the joint Kigoma project being implemented by United Nations agencies," he said.
"Our focus is to support the government in creating a disaster-resilient environment, ensuring that citizens are equipped to cope with and recover from the impacts of disasters."