1. Disentangling conflicting views on landslide interventions through community engagement following relief efforts in the Bududa District, eastern Uganda Dr. Anthony Harris, Prof. David Jenkins, Ms. Marga Quince, Ms. Teresa Filipponi PONT Community to Community Development Centre, University of Glamorgan Mr. Richard Okotel, Community Development Associates, Mbale, Uganda

2. Introduction University of Glamorgan is part of a unique community twinning programme with Mbale Region of Eastern UgandaUniversity of Glamorgan is part of a unique community twinning programme with Mbale Region of Eastern Uganda PONT Community to Community Research CentrePONT Community to Community Research Centre OverviewOverview –Bududa District prone to landslides –Identification of views: difficulties and solutions –Consideration of solutions

3. PONT (Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust) Aims of PONTAims of PONT –Identify consensus for priorities –Capacity building –Monitoring and governance MethodMethod –Delivering projects through local NGOs –Working with Regional and District Government Wide range of projectsWide range of projects

4. PONT (Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust) Unique community twinning schemeUnique community twinning scheme A North-South, multi-stakeholder linkA North-South, multi-stakeholder link Coalition Against PovertyCoalition Against Poverty RHONDDA CYNON TAFFMBALE County Borough CouncilRegional Authorities Local Health BoardDistrict Authorities Local Hospital TrustHospital Local businessesCommunity Health Workers ChurchesChurches and organisations Schools University of GlamorganNGOs

5. Bududa District Landslide History Increasing frequency noted through the 20 th CenturyIncreasing frequency noted through the 20 th Century 1997 to 1999: at least 48 dead, 885 homes destroyed, 5600 homeless, rivers dammed with considerable flood damage1997 to 1999: at least 48 dead, 885 homes destroyed, 5600 homeless, rivers dammed with considerable flood damage –Included damage at Shafusi 2002 & 2007: minor events2002 & 2007: minor events

6. Bududa District Landslide History Landslides 1 st March 2010Landslides 1 st March 2010 –Triggered by five days of intense rain –From El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole –Killed about 400 at Nametsi and displaced about 5000 from the surrounding at risk area SST Anom., Feb 2010. Source: IRI/LDEO Climate Data Library

7. Highly vulnerable communities High levels of povertyHigh levels of poverty Densely populatedDensely populated Land shortagesLand shortages Declining soil productivityDeclining soil productivity DeforestationDeforestation Steep terrainSteep terrain High rainfallHigh rainfall Soils with low shear strengthSoils with low shear strength Marginally stable slopesMarginally stable slopes

8. Disentangling conflicting views External and internal viewsExternal and internal views –National, Regional and District Government –Governmental organisations and national agencies –International Non Governmental Organisations –Local Non Governmental Organisations –Community leadership –Community membership

9. Governmental and NGO response IDP camp for refugees set up at BuluchekeIDP camp for refugees set up at Bulucheke –Co-ordinated by URCS for the OPM and the District Disaster Management Committee –Designed for around 3800 people –>8000 by July 2010 including from surrounding villages Temporary camp at BukalasiTemporary camp at Bukalasi –Around 900 people

10. Government view and solution To avoid such tragedies in future, especially on the heavily degraded slopes, the government planned to permanently relocate and resettle the survivors in a new area…To avoid such tragedies in future, especially on the heavily degraded slopes, the government planned to permanently relocate and resettle the survivors in a new area… –IDP camp closed October 2010 –Estimated 1500 relocated to Kiryandongo in western Uganda

11. District Natural Resource Office View Discussion with District Physical PlannerDiscussion with District Physical Planner –Problems of population increase, land pressure, poor farming methods, deforestation –Importance of land use planning –The use of community sensitization projects in some areas –Differences in understanding related to age and education

12. Disentangling community views Field visits and methodologiesField visits and methodologies Number of visitsNumber of visits –PONT Mbale partners –PONT & University December 2010 to Bukalasi - questionnairesDecember 2010 to Bukalasi - questionnaires January 2011 to Bukalasi and Shafusi - focus group discussions and individual interviewsJanuary 2011 to Bukalasi and Shafusi - focus group discussions and individual interviews

13. Views from focus group and interviews Survey of how the landslides are perceived within the communities of Bukalasi and ShafusiSurvey of how the landslides are perceived within the communities of Bukalasi and Shafusi –Collection of demographic and education data to consider responses QuestionsQuestions Is it possible that landslides would occur in their village?Is it possible that landslides would occur in their village? Is their family at risk?Is their family at risk? What causes the landslides?What causes the landslides? Can anything be done to stop the landslides?Can anything be done to stop the landslides? Has anyone talked to them about the causes of the landslides?Has anyone talked to them about the causes of the landslides? Have they prepared for a landslide?Have they prepared for a landslide? Would they make changes if they were asked?Would they make changes if they were asked?

14. Views from Shafusi Understand how hazards are perceived in ShafusiUnderstand how hazards are perceived in Shafusi –1997 landslide still affects village land-use –All consider that they were at risk –Approximately half were aware of the causes: heavy rainfall, deforestation, poor land management – mostly younger age and through local school –Most did not think anything could be done to prevent landslides –some identified afforestation –Nobody had talked to them about solutions and nothing had been done to increase preparedness –Nothing going on to plant trees there

15. Focus group views from Bukalasi Understand how hazards are perceived in Bukalasi – close to the recent landslide siteUnderstand how hazards are perceived in Bukalasi – close to the recent landslide site Focus groups with a few dominant voicesFocus groups with a few dominant voices –Highly sensitized as a result of recent landslide –Rainfall identified most commonly as cause –Understanding of deforestation but consider that trees are removed by landslides –Areas almost completely deforested –Some Eucalyptus planting –Voices in discussion groups identified relocation as only feasible option

16. Views from Bukalasi IDPs QuestionnaireQuestionnaire –Community Development Associates, Uganda Interviewees – internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the villages affected by the landslides who were not relocated to KiryandongoInterviewees – internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the villages affected by the landslides who were not relocated to Kiryandongo

17. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Interviewees – internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the villages affected by the landslides who were not relocated to KiryandongoInterviewees – internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the villages affected by the landslides who were not relocated to Kiryandongo

18. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on causesViews on causes

19. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on effectsViews on effects

20. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on solutionsViews on solutions

21. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on solutionsViews on solutions

22. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on solutionsViews on solutions

23. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on solutionsViews on solutions

24. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on relocationViews on relocation

25. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on relocationViews on relocation

26. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on relocationViews on relocation

27. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on relocationViews on relocation

28. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on relocationViews on relocation

29. Questionnaire views from Bukalasi IDPs Views on relocationViews on relocation

30. Recent situation at Kiryandongo “Facts” from OPM representative:“Facts” from OPM representative: –602 families in the camp (approx 2500 people) –100 new homes have been built but not finished (no doors/windows). –100 new homes have been built but not finished (no doors/windows). –Plans to build 100 homes per annum for the remaining families. “Facts” from Police:“Facts” from Police: –There have been settling in troubles with other refugees and the locals. –Only 2 water boreholes and water shortage is a severe problem.

31. Recent situation at Kiryandongo From LC1 Nametsi survivors/refugees:From LC1 Nametsi survivors/refugees: –Many families stayed behind and quite a few have already left. –Many families stayed behind and quite a few have already left. –The feeling is that they “were brought here” (i.e. with little choice). –The feeling is that they “were brought here” (i.e. with little choice). –There is a list of problems. –Last years crop was satisfactory and this year will be better from adaptation. –They take their produce to Mbale to sell and talk of Bududa as home.

32. Recent situation in Bududa The Government has not cleaned up the old IDP camp at Bulecheke.The Government has not cleaned up the old IDP camp at Bulecheke. –The land is not available for community uses –Would the community co-operate with displacees again?

33. Conclusions Most do not recognise their role in increasing vulnerability to slope failureMost do not recognise their role in increasing vulnerability to slope failure Other factors of greater concernOther factors of greater concern Causes of the landslides and solutions not addressedCauses of the landslides and solutions not addressed Need for community identification of local and real riskNeed for community identification of local and real risk Need for community ownership of solutionsNeed for community ownership of solutions

34. What is the solution to problem?

35. Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies Expand and develop school- community-NGO projectsExpand and develop school- community-NGO projects –Develop awareness –Landslide education materials –Specific location vulnerability mapping –Develop preparedness Agroforestry and slope bioengineering solutionsAgroforestry and slope bioengineering solutions –Sustainable solutions to also tackle poverty

36. Future needs for Bududa Continuation of land shortage and expanding populationContinuation of land shortage and expanding population Implications of future climate change predictionsImplications of future climate change predictions Urgent need to develop community resilience to climatic variabilityUrgent need to develop community resilience to climatic variability Relocation of population an ineffective solutionRelocation of population an ineffective solution

37. Questions?