Effects of floods on commercial businesses in Bwaise

Abstract

This study was to establish the effects of floods on the commercial businesses in Bwaise with a case study in Jambula zone basing on the following objectives; To establish the effects of the type of floods affecting the businesses of people in Bwaise, to establish how the different causes of floods affect people’s businesses in Bwaise and to establish the various types of commercial businesses affected by floods in Bwaise, to suggest the possible solutions which can reduce the effects of floods on these commercial businesses. The study used both primary and secondary data. A descriptive and quantitative research design was used. Simple random sampling was used whereby the researcher administered 45 questionnaires and a response rate of 52% was attained. Convenience sampling was also used to get respondents for a focus group discussion. Secondary data was also obtained from NEMA, NWSC, KCCA, Ministry of Disaster preparedness reports, journals, newspapers, textbooks and other publications. The findings revealed that floods that are caused by swamps affect commercial businesses by 56% where the highest effect is destruction of equipment16% and the lowest is collapse ofbusinesses2%.The floods that flowed rapidly affected commercial businesses by 24% where the highest effect was destruction of equipment by 7% and the lowest was collapse of businesses 1%. The shops were affected mostly by reduction of customers with 19% and at least delay of work and destruction of equipment by 9.5% each. The researcher concluded that the shops in Bwaise were the most affected by the floods by 29%whereas saloons and bars were the least affected byfloodsi.e.by14%each.The floods that flowed gradually affected people’s businesses the most whereas those that flowed slowly affected people’s businesses the least. The floods that were caused by swamps affected people’s businesses more than those caused by rain fall. The researcher recommended that there was need for the government to improve the drainage of Bwaise so as to ensure that flood water moves slowly, encourage the people in Bwaise to setup their businesses in places that are free of swamps and encourage the people of Bwaise to engage in businesses that have lesser effects of floods than those that are highly affected by floods.