International Telecommunications Union has lent twenty satellite phones and two General Area Network(GAN) satellite terminals to the Uganda government.

The equipmemt is to be used by the Disaster Preparedness ministry in coordinating relief services to the districts that were affected by the recent floods.

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)minister, Dr. Ham Mukasa Mulira handed the equipment to the Disaster Preparedness minister, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere early this week.

"The heavy rains that lasted for four months led to severe flooding in the North and Eastern parts of the country destroying crops, houses, bridges and affected about 400 000 people," Mulira said on Monday after handing over the equipment at the ministry's offices.

He said the ministry asked the ITU for emergency communication equipment.

"ITU offered twenty Thuraya satellite phones and the satellite terminals, the phones will be used for two months till December 20 and will be returned to the union," he said.

"Under the arrangement ITU will meet the cost of airtime related to the usage of the equipment," he said.