District local governments' disaster preparedness and response to landslides: a case of Bududa in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of preparedness and response of District Local Governments towards landslide disaster with a specific focus on Bududa district. The specific objectives of the study included; to establish the level of human and logistical resource preparedness of District Local Governments in responding to landslide disasters, to examine existing structures put in place by District Local Governments to mitigate and respond to landslide disasters, to identify the mitigation and response measures by District Local Governments towards landslide disasters and to explore challenges faced by District Local Governments in mitigating and responding to landslide disasters and the aftermath effects. A qualitative research approach was adopted and purposive sampling was used to determine the study respondents; 29 key informants were selected out of which 27 were successfully interviewed using key informant interview guides alongside several documents that were reviewed by use of document review guide. Data was analyzed using content analysis and findings indicated that Bududa District Local Government had relatively insufficient human resource with limited skills in disaster management and response yet less facilitated to plan and implement mitigation and response measures to landslide disasters. Besides, the logistical resources were hardly available; mainly procured and distributed by Central Government through OPM and other development and humanitarian partners only when there is occurrence of landslides. Among the structures available to mitigate and respond to landslides were the disaster management committees at district, Sub County, parish and village levels as well as emergency response teams. Besides, there is a district disaster management policy though not yet operational, disaster work plans and budgets that are followed when responding to landslide disasters. The health facilities in existence had insufficient spaces in relation to big numbers of landslide victims with poor referral systems yet less equipped with medical supplies and commodities. Bududa District Local Government should use the existing structures to develop and improve policies and strategic guidelines to increase staff numbers in the crucial fields related to landslide disasters. Besides, should also lead joint and coordinated implementation of interventions across the partners to effectively and sustainably mitigate and respond to landslide disasters. Similarly, Central Government should prioritize allocating special fund to District Local Governments that are clustered as landslide disaster prone to enhance their financial capacity to ably mitigate and respond to landslide disasters.