CBA and LLA Initiatives in Mbale District
In Mbale, Uganda, a notable CBA initiative involves community-managed terraces and early warning systems on Mount Elgon's slopes to combat landslides and floods.
Challenge Addressed: The initiative tackles frequent landslides and soil erosion from heavy rains, intensified by climate change, which threaten farming and homes in this hilly, flood-prone region.
Local Engagement: Communities participate through village committees that lead planning, select sites using local maps, and decide on measures like terracing during participatory workshops.
Outcomes and Impacts: It has reduced soil loss by 40%, boosted crop yields via agroforestry, and saved lives via timely alerts, fostering economic stability.
Traditional Practices in Region
Farming: Intercropping bananas with coffee and terracing, rooted in Bagisu traditions for soil retention.
Water use: Bamboo channels for rainwater harvesting, used historically for dry spells.
Housing: Mud huts with thatched roofs elevated on stilts for flood protection.
Disaster prep: Oral weather forecasting from cloud patterns and animal behavior.
These practices address current risks like erratic rains moderately but face erosion from population pressure; many persist alongside modern seeds, though youth prefer cash crops.
Connection to Traditions: Linked to Bagisu cultural values of communal land stewardship (okuzurra) and ancestral spirits tied to the mountain, reinforcing identity and social cohesion.
Integration into LLA: Under LLA, devolve funding for scaling terraces, train youth on hybrid systems blending bamboo with sensors, and link to district policies for multi-level support.
Barriers to Sustainability: Policy neglect favors large infrastructure, youth migration to cities, generational knowledge loss, and donor dependency over local revival.
Successful Integration Examples
NaFORRI's agroforestry projects revive mulberry hedgerows for erosion control.
LIFE-AR mobilizes communities blending traditional weather lore with apps