The determinants and effectiveness of local community adaptation strategies for flood risk reduction in Nyamwamba upper catchment, Kasese District.

Abstract

Floods are the most common, widespread geological hazards that threaten lives and property globally. Over 71 million people are estimated to live in both extreme poverty and significant flood risk zones and are vulnerable to flood risk. Mountainous regions are more susceptible to flood risks with Rwenzori ranges being the most affected and flood prone areas in Uganda. The Nyamwamba catchment area is one of the most flood prone areas on the Rwenzori ranges. The current study therefore analyzed the effectiveness of the existing adaptation strategies towards flood risk reduction and develop more suitable strategies, which can be used to mitigate flood risk in Nyamwamba upper catchment area. The study further identified the social-economic implications of the floods. The study analyzed the existing local community flood adaptation strategies in the region. The study assessed the determinants of adaptation to flood risk reduction in Nyamwamba upper catchment area and further evaluated the effectiveness of the existing adaptation strategies towards flood risk reduction in Nyamwamba upper catchment area. The study employed mixed research approaches that is quantitative and qualitative research approaches. To further validate and strengthen the research’s conclusions, a descriptive approach of a cross sectional study was employed. Data was collected through field surveys, interviews and direct field observations; descriptive data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages and for the effectiveness, a 5-scale Likert scale continuum was employed. The findings were then presented inform of tables, pie charts and bar graphs. The study findings revealed that floods had numerous impacts on communities such as infrastructures (81.4%), roads (64.3%) and deaths (21.5%). A number of strategies have been up to minimize flood occurrences for example use of sandbags, raising concrete floors, flood proofing among others. Adaptation is determined by numerous determinants like Age, Education, Income levels. The level of effectiveness of local community flood adaptation strategies was significantly noticed in use of sandbags (0.000), rain water harvesting (0.000), elevating houses (0.000) and evacuating the area (0.000). The least effective local community flood adaptation strategy was flood proofing 0.106. This indicated P-values >0.05. The study therefore found a significant relationship between flood adaptation strategies and flood risk reduction

Key words: Floods, Nyamwamba, Effectiveness, Determinants, flood risks.