Towards decentralized landslide disaster risk governance in Uganda

Abstract

Decentralized governance is critical to reducing disaster risks. This paper evaluates the decentralized landslide disaster risk governance in Uganda. Primary data were collected through household surveys and key informant interviews conducted in the landslide disaster prone Mount Elgon district of Bududa, Eastern Uganda. Secondary data were collected through document review. Primary and secondary data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The study findings reveal that in Uganda, landslide disaster risk reduction is perceived as a shared responsibility between different actors and involves wider stakeholder participation that has enhanced resource mobilization. Coordination of landslide disaster risk reduction has also been streamlined. Decentralized landslide disaster risk governance however, faces several challenges, including; financial and human resource constraints, political interference, corruption, uncooperative constituents and lack of an enabling sectoral law. Decentralized governance should therefore be upscaled to achieve landslide disaster risk reduction. Future research should focus on mapping key actors and institutions using Social Network Analysis to enable better resource allocation for landslide disaster risk reduction in the Country.