Assessing perceptions of community hydro-meterological risk and response in Buseruka Sub county Hoima district

Abstract

The study focused on assessing perceptions of community hydro-meteorological risk and response in Buseruka sub county. The specific objective were to; establish how communities in Buseruka sub county perceive the hydro-meteorological risks, establish the effects of the hydro-meteorological shocks on the livelihood activities in Buseruka sub county and to assess the coping strategies adopted by the communities to reduce on the risks posed by hydro-meteorological disasters in Buseruka sub county. A sample of 80 respondents was selected using simple random purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Both quantitative (quantitative) and qualitative (interviewing) data collection approaches were used. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) and MS Excel software package to generate descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that human activities were the cause of the hydro-meteorological events (0.015<0.05). In terms of severity rate of the hydro-meteorological events, respondents reported high rates in all events. All these perceptions were significantly differed (floods(p=0.012, p=0.001), drought (0.009), hailstorms(0.02). Agriculture and animal keeping were the most affected activities by changes in hydro-meteorological conditions. Surprisingly, the respondents never appreciated the role played by the government in combating the effects of hydro-meteorological events. The study recommended the need for effective sensitization and education of communities on the weather-climate related events, in order to improve on people's understanding on hydro-meteorological events.