In the flood-prone plains along River Nambale, where rising waters once meant panic and devastation, a simple metallic signpost painted green, yellow, and red is transforming how communities prepare for disaster.

For years, the residents of along River Nambale neighboring flood zones lived at the mercy of nature.

Flash floods routinely washed away homes, crops, and dreams striking with little to no warning.

But today, things are different. Armed with knowledge, visual cues, and early warnings, communities are rewriting their story.

This transformation has been made possible through the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) under the Japanese Pledge Funds. The project has introduced an early warning system that is both simple and effective centered around a color-coded signpost system strategically placed along riverbanks.

“We used to wait for the river to tell us what to do when it flooded,” says Joweria Namasaba, a local leader and member of the Disaster Risk Reduction Committee. “It caught us unprepared. Today, we act before disaster strikes.”

The signs, green for safe, yellow for caution, and red for danger are now familiar to community members, serving as critical indicators tied to weather advisories and local monitoring.

This visual system is backed by radio messages, mobile alerts, and a network of trained community volunteers who interpret forecasts and mobilize early response.

More than a warning system, it is a symbol of empowerment.

“Before, floods were seen as acts of fate unpredictable and unavoidable,” Joweria explains. “Now, people have knowledge. Families are moving from flood zones voluntarily. We’re taking control of our safety.”

While some households continue to struggle with securing permanent shelter on higher ground, there’s a shared sense of progress and hope.

“We may not have new houses yet, but we’ve kept our lives—and that is what matters most,” Joweria adds, standing beside one of the signposts with quiet pride.

The initiative is part of URCS’s broader Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) strategy.

Beyond River Nambale, the program is being implemented in other high-risk districts such as Kisoro, Pallisa, Sironko, and Kiryandongo.

So far, URCS has; installed four CEA kiosks to support community feedback and information sharing, conducted training sessions for thematic working groups and Red Cross staff, developed a real-time digital feedback dashboard powered by ESPO CRM, and launched toll-free feedback lines for communities to voice concerns and receive timely support.

To date, over 740 people have been directly reached through this initiative, with thousands more engaged through public messaging and local structures. The system is helping communities not just respond to disaster but shape how future interventions are designed.

For residents like Joweria, the most powerful shift isn’t just physical safety, it’s how people now view their own role in disaster preparedness.

“The Red Cross is no longer just an organization that shows up when things go wrong. It’s now part of our community’s resilience. They’ve walked with us, listened to us, and helped us take charge of our future,” Joweria says.

In a country where climate change continues to intensify extreme weather, this community-led model offers a blueprint for scaling local resilience. And along the banks of River Nambale, the message is clear: early warning saves lives and dignity.