Thirteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

Climate change is being experienced in many parts of Uganda, including the Mount Elgon region, in various forms such as rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods, declining in quantity and quality of water resources, reduced agricultural productivity, spread of vector borne diseases to new areas and heavier storms. Climate change poses serious problems with far reaching social, political, economic, and environmental consequences, particularly in least developed countries characterized by low adaptive capacities. Landslides are likely to affect mountain areas more than other areas of Uganda due to old soils and weak rocks and the limited capacities of communities to cope with climate change impacts. In March 2010, following unusually heavy rains, landslides occurred in the Bududa District of the Mount Elgon region. Landslides buried three whole villages and caused numerous deaths. Hundreds of households were displaced, two primary schools were destroyed and the main health centre serving the area was severely damaged. In 2011, the district of Bulambuli was also strongly affected by landslides, which destroyed homes and crops. Poverty, deforestation, soil erosion and poor local knowledge on disaster preparedness exacerbate the harm caused by landslides and floods. despite existing policy actions on disaster risk reduction (DRR), many community members in Bududa still continue to settle in high-risk areas re-zoned for non-settlement. This study considers the apparent information asymmetry on expectations between the community and government.