ACCESS4ALL Group

Bududa District, located on the steep slopes of the Mount Elgon massif in eastern Uganda, is known as one of the country’s most landslide-prone areas. The district’s elevation varies from 1,236 to 4,312 meters above sea level and is marked by steep, undulating terrain, an extreme bimodal rainfall pattern, highly weathered granite rock, and volcanic soils rich in clay. The fertility of these volcanic soils supports a dense population.

These factors contribute to inherently unstable slope conditions, rendering the area susceptible to climate change-related disasters. A significant impact of climate change affecting local communities in the Bududa District is the increased frequency and intensity of landslides triggered by rainfall. The natural characteristics and changes in rainfall patterns, marked by heavier and more prolonged precipitation, have exacerbated slope instability on the steep slopes of Mt. Elgon. These conditions have intensified the occurrence of landslides, which have become more frequent and destructive over recent decades.

 The vulnerability of local communities in Bududa district is further exacerbated by socio-economic and environmental pressures. Rapid population growth and severe land scarcity have forced households to settle and farm on steep, marginal slopes, often in high-risk zones, due to increased food demand. Extensive deforestation and continuous cultivation for subsistence agriculture have further reduced slope stability by weakening soil structure and limiting vegetative cover. These anthropogenic factors, coupled with inadequate land-use planning and limited disaster preparedness, heighten community exposure and sensitivity to landslide hazards.

This phenomenon poses significant challenges to communities with severe and far-reaching impacts, such as the destruction of farmlands, displacement of people, damage to socio-economic infrastructure, and loss of lives. Landslide hazards, for example, account for about 69% of the registered fatalities in the country’s disaster landscape. Essential infrastructure, including roads, schools, water sources, bridges and health facilities, is frequently damaged or rendered inaccessible, thereby disrupting critical services and limiting mobility. Recurrent landslide events also compromise food security by destroying crops and reducing the land available for cultivation, while the persistent fear of future disasters adversely affects community well-being and long-term planning. Beyond the immediate physical destruction, landslides disrupt livelihoods, undermine food security, and entrench poverty among already vulnerable populations.

In response to these challenges, communities in Bududa have implemented a range of adaptation and coping strategies at the community, governmental, and individual levels. At the community level, farmers have engaged in informal early warning practices, such as monitoring rainfall intensity and soil cracks, and have promoted afforestation, crop diversification, agroforestry, and trenching to stabilize slopes. Government interventions have included disaster response measures, relocation programs for high-risk households, and public awareness campaigns on landslide risks, although challenges persist in implementation and sustainability. Non-governmental organizations have also supported community sensitization, emergency preparedness, and livelihood diversification initiatives. At the household level, some families have modified agricultural practices, constructed temporary drainage channels, or voluntarily relocated to safer areas where feasible. Despite these efforts, limited resources, land scarcity, and strong attachment to ancestral land continue to constrain effective long-term adaptation.

Consequently, landslide occurrences in Bududa represent not only a recurring environmental hazard but also a critical development challenge that demands integrated risk reduction, land management, and community-based climate resilience strategies.