The Barriers to Landslide Responses over the Mt. Elgon in Bududa District, Uganda

Abstract

Landslides are natural disasters that normally cause misery over the Mount Elgon region, especially in Bududa district. A landslide early warning system was developed in collaboration with the community and this study investigated it’s effectiveness in disseminating warnings to the community. The data were collected from 82 respondents (mean age 43) and 4 focus group discussions (one per village). Majority of the respondents lost crops (35.9%); land (29.8%); lives and livestock (6.9%). The frequent occurrence of landslides is due to the changes in landuse patterns; settlement on steep slopes; and prolonged rainfall of low intensities. The study found that, 93.2% of respondents have ever received the warnings and alerts. 78.8% of those who received the warnings evacuated. The use of radios to disseminate warnings is the most efficient communication channel (44.4%) followed by using the clan members (19.5%). Only 40% of the women received the early warning through radios, an indicator that this channel puts women at a disadvantage. The main challenges regarding utilization of early warning system were: poor timing (29.9%); poor coordination (20.7%); and poor sensitization (18.4%). There is need to strengthen the community networks, and with continuous sensitization, the effectiveness of the landslides early warning will improve and this is expected to enhance the resilience of the community to landslides.