Assessment of stake holder perceptions and their potential recommendations for potential mitigation solutions for road kills in Murchison falls national Park, UGANDA

Abstract

This study assessed stakeholder perceptions and their recommendations for potential mitigation solutions for road kills in Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP), addressing three specific objectives: 1) To identify road kill prevention measures stakeholders perceive as most effective; 2) To assess the level of awareness and attitudes of stakeholders towards road kill incidents; and 3) To identify more sustainable solutions for mitigating road kills. Questionnaires were administered to 75 respondents and semi-structured interviews conducted with 30 key informants. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26. The findings revealed a high level of awareness among stakeholders. Most key informants reported that motorists routinely ignore speed regulations and noted that collisions are rarely reported voluntarily. Among existing mitigation measures, speed indicators were rated most effective. Wildlife warning signs received the highest least-effective rating. Infrastructure and road engineering solutions were identified as the most preferred long-term strategy, followed by community engagement and education, policy, planning and enforcement. A Pearson Chi-square test confirmed a statistically significant association between stakeholder category and preferred long-term strategy (χ² (6) = 13.765, p = 0.032). Support for the installation of physical barriers at wildlife crossing hotspots was nearly evenly split. The majority of key informants recommended an integrated approach combining road engineering measures, enforcement, public awareness, and wildlife crossing infrastructure as the most sustainable strategy. In conclusion, while stakeholder awareness is high, inadequate enforcement undermines existing mitigation efforts. Nonetheless, strengthened enforcement, targeted driver education, can help to mitigate road kills. There is a gap between what stakeholders report and the actual driving behavior on ground.