Community Knowledge of Landslides and Perceptions of Aid Relief: A Qualitative Investigation in Rural Uganda

Climate related disasters such as landslides continue to contribute to premature mortality and underdevelopment in many regions in less-developed nations like the Bududa District in Uganda (e.g. Roberts and Thanos 2003; UNDP 2004, 2014; UNISDR 2001, 2008, 2012, 2014). This study utilizes 19 semi-structured interviews, three of which were in the form of focus groups, to investigate the conceptions of the causes and effects of landslides, with an emphasis on aid relief and perceived needs. In doing so, this study highlights the incongruousness and inadequacy of aid in meeting the needs of community members. Not only do community members provide prescriptions for improving aid relief, they do so with a wealth of knowledge about the signs, causes, and effects of landslides, and the economic situations that hinder poor nations like Uganda and its populations from living safe and secure lives. This study contributes to literature on micro and macro connections of community-based knowledge and global political economic decisions and their effects on disaster management and disease and injury prevention.