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I LANDSLIDE HAZARDS LANDSLIDE HAZARDS: HOUSEHOLD VULNERABILITY, RESILIENCE AND COPING IN BUDUDA DISTRICT, EASTERN UGANDA. By EKOTU JOHN JUVENTINE STUDENT NUMBER: 2009094331 Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters in Disaster Management In the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa At the UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE Study Leader: MS NCUBE ALICE 2012 i DECLARATION I, John Juventine Ekotu, No. 2009094331, hereby declare that this dissertation is a product of my own independent work and has not previously been submitted for the award of a similar or related degree in any other university. All sources of information used have been correctly referenced, and any other assistance rendered has been fully acknowledged. Signature: ………………………………………….. Author: ………………………………………….. Date: …........……………………… JOHN JUVENTINE EKOTU ii ABSTRACT Landslides are among the most widespread geological hazards that threaten human lives worldwide, most especially on the mountainous regions of the world. On 1 March 2010, a devastating debris flow occurred in Nametsi village, Bukalasi Sub County, Bududa district in Eastern Uganda. The landslide event caused significant damage to farmland, crops, and livestock; claimed over 400 human lives and displaced an estimated 5,000 people. The high death toll and damage suffered by households from this landslide suggested high level vulnerability, absence of resilience and coping mechanisms. This study focuses on the assessment of household landslide hazard vulnerabilities and vulnerable elements in Bududa. It addresses the household awareness of landslide hazards, landslide early warning, mitigation, resilience and coping strategies that have been employed by households in the area over time. This was a qualitative study with a cross sectional approach. It was found out that in Bududa, children were the most vulnerable to landslide hazards followed by the elderly persons. Lack of awareness of landslide hazards, location of their homes on steep slopes and inability to run away quickly from the threat contributed to their vulnerability although most households in Bududa have places for evacuation in case of landslide occurrence. Meanwhile it was established that most people were able to cope with landslide hazards through prayers to God, the presence of many families around, talking to friends, support from nongovernment organizations and government. Assistance from relatives, use of personal savings and migration to other areas within relieved the impact. However it has been suggested that vulnerabilities in the area could be reduced through afforestation, proper sitting of houses, restricting settlement and agricultural activities such as cultivation and grazing on the danger prone areas. Community participation in the management of natural resources, public awareness campaigns and outreach programmes are recommended. The relocation of settlements programme that was fronted by the government requires further investigation to be carried out especially in terms of willingness to relocate to safer places. Also more work needs to be done in the area to change production systems, improving household income levels, landslide hazard mapping, assessment, development of predictive models, early warning and slope monitoring mechanisms. iii DEDICATION To the Lord God Almighty, who by His grace has seen me through my academic journey to this level, the glory returns to Him. My Uncle, Okello William Ocen, my parents John Ekotu and Bridget Atim Ekotu Thank you for inspiring me always to strive higher, being supportive and exemplary to me. May the Lord reward you iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to our Heavenly Farther for the protection, insight, guidance and perseverance he gave me and my family during the course of conducting this research study. Special and warm thanks to my wife Jane and my children Johnathan and Jesse for the support, prayers, motivation, encouragement and the sacrifices they had to make. I would like to sincerely thank all the people who assisted me to complete this dissertation. In particular, my father in law, Professor Stephen Olupot Emurwon for the initial guidance and inspiration you gave me during the early stages of designing this study. My supervisor, Ms Alice Ncube of the University of the Free State, Disaster Management Training and Education Centre, for the tireless guidance you extended towards me in the course of shaping this work. You were always available for me whenever I needed your help. I am indebted to express gratitude to the master‘s programme coordinator, Ms Olivia Kunguma and the entire DiMTEC team for the great contribution and guidance in developing this research. Special thanks go to Professor Rita Niemann from the University of the Free State. You provided fruitful advice and guidance in the initial stages of developing this research study. Regards to Dr Delson Chikobvu for your technical guidance in the process of developing research tools that have made this work a success. Thank you for your tireless efforts. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Stephen Wamulota, Uganda Red Cross Society, Eastern Region, Mr Tumwa Wanambwa and a team of research assistants for the effort you put in during the process of collecting data for this study. Special regards to Tumwa who doubled as team leader, provided guidance to me and interpretations during interviews with the key informants. You did a good job. v I wish to thank all the respondents, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), officials in the department of Geology and Environment Bududa district; the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology and Office of the Presidents. Without your cooperation, this study would not have been possible. My special thanks to Mr Charles Peter Osingada for the remarkable assistance and guidance in the statistical analysis of the household questionnaire. Thank you for your costly effort rendered to me free of charge. To all the friends and the entire DiMTEC classmates, each of you made a contribution to this work in your different unique ways. Thank you for the moral support and encouragement. Special regards to Mr Stephen Amanu and your family in Pretoria, South Africa. I appreciate your support, constructive advice and encouragement rendered during the difficult moments of the entire course. God bless you. vi TABLE of CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. xii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. xiv ACROYNYMS ................................................................................................................... xv Chapter One: Introduction ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Landslide Hazards in Uganda ............................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Landslides in Bududa ..................................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Causes of landslides in Bududa ..................................................................... 4 1.3 Trends in Occurrence of Landslide Disasters and Victims ..................................... 8 1.4 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................... 10 1.5 Objectives of the Study ....................................................................................... 11 1.5.1 Main Objective ............................................................................................. 11 1.5.2 Specific Objectives ....................................................................................... 12 1.6 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 12 1.7 Characteristics of the Study Area ........................................................................ 12 1.7.1 Location ....................................................................................................... 12 1.7.2 Geological Setting ........................................................................................ 13 1.7.3 Topography and Vegetation ......................................................................... 15 1.7.4 Climate and Hydrology ................................................................................. 16 1.7.5 Human and Economic Activities ................................................................... 17 1.7.6 Population and Administration ...................................................................... 18 1.8 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................... 19 1.9 Justification of the Study ....................................................................................
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