Browsing by Author "Wetunga Grace"

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    IMPACT OF LANDSLIDES ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF NAMETSI SUB-COUNTY, BUDUDA DISTRICT, EASTERN UGANDA
    (2026-09-04) Wetunga Grace
    ABSTRACT This study assessed the effects of landslides on the socio-economic environment of Nametsi Sub-County, Bududa District, Eastern Uganda. Landslides have long threatened communities on the slopes of Mount Elgon, destroying farmland, infrastructure, and livelihoods, yet limited empirical attention has been paid to their detailed socio-economic effects at the sub-county level. The study was guided by three objectives: to identify the physical and human causes of landslides in the area, to examine their socio-economic effects on households and communities, and to evaluate existing mitigation strategies. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted, employing a mixed-methods approach that combined structured household questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data review. Data were collected from 90 respondents drawn from Nametsi, Bunakasala, and Bukalasi villages using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The findings revealed that heavy and prolonged rainfall (92.9%), deforestation (78.6%), and steep slopes (71.4%) were the most frequently cited causes of landslides in the area. The majority of households (78.6%) reported losing at least a quarter of their farmland to landslides, while a similar proportion experienced a decline in household income, with 42.9% reporting that their income had more than halved. Infrastructure such as roads, schools, and health facilities was also damaged, disrupting access to essential services, while displacement and heightened concern for personal safety were reported across the study villages. Existing mitigation measures, including afforestation, terracing, community sensitization, and resettlement programmes, were found to be constrained by limited resources, weak enforcement, and community resistance rooted in attachment to ancestral land. The study concludes that landslides have significantly undermined agricultural productivity, household income, infrastructure, and social wellbeing in Nametsi Sub-County, and recommends strengthened community-based disaster risk reduction, sustainable land management, and more inclusive resettlement planning to build long-term resilience.