Understanding flood risk perceptions and motivations for damage mitigation : the case of Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

This work was not going to be possible without the help of local contacts in Kampala. Thank you, Professor Shuaib Lwasa, for connecting me to a great team of research assistants and helping in the first briefing session in which we discussed translation and logistic issues. I would also like to appreciate my team of research assistants in Kampala -Hakimu, Teddy, Isaac K, Isaac N, Susan, Juliet, Daniel, and Lilian. Thank you for the sterling job you did in administering questionnaires that needed translation 'on the fly,' in places that either had poor accessibility or required walking for long distances on foot. Hakimu, thank you once more for sharing with me the Uganda shapefiles.The KCCA deserves a big applause for allowing me to do this study and also because some of their employees participated in my interviews. This work would not have succeeded without gaining access to the case study areas. Special thanks to Harriet, Isaac, Jude, and Abel. Flavia, thank you so much for the Uganda shapefiles which you shared with us in 2015 -they were again very helpful in this project.Community leaders in Bwaise III, Natete, and Ntinda permitted us to carry out the study in their areas and I am grateful for their cooperation and understanding. Special mention goes to the Slum Dwellers Federation committee in Bwaise III for introducing research assistants to the community and helping them to find walkways in the area. In Natete, the Chairperson for Central B helped in the same manner and I would like to thank him for the fantastic job! ii My sincere appreciation also goes to my wife, Emerita who, over and above the usual support and encouragement, had to work to keep us afloat financially, when changes in the economy in Zimbabwe resulted in a drastic reduction in our income in value terms. Words fail to adequately express my appreciation for you Emerita.The PhD journey can be very lonely, but that was not the case with me, thanks to my colleagues who kept me company in diverse ways. Special mention goes to my officemates -Adish, Lydia, Rosa, Zaid, Deepshika, Sven, Sergio, and Vicky. Thank you, guys, for sharing ideas and resources, and for the encouragement. I would also like to appreciate Alice -having graduated with the same MSc. Class and going ahead to PhD studies in the same department meant that we exchanged notes at various stages of our PhD research projects.To reach this level, there are many stages that I accomplished. I would, therefore, like to appreciate all the people who contributed to my entire education career to date. I would like to thank my Brother, Dr Admire, for being an inspiration and for encouraging me throughout my studies. Special mention goes to my parents who sacrificed their resources and energy to send me to school. I still vividly remember how my mother Mary sold her only goat when I was sent away from school because of school fees, in my 4th year in secondary school. I will also not forget how my father Jameson Alex, would travel distances, buying and selling, even though he was slowly losin...

An Insider Within

“…32 A researcher who identifies as an insider can gain and sustain useful collaborative relationships with participants when they too recognize the researcher as an insider. 33 Whereas researchers often view the world from the lenses of their own identity, their attributes evoke perceptions in research participants that are also qualified by the kind of research questions being asked. These factors could also influence power relations during fieldwork, sometimes forming a 'power distance' between the researcher and the participants.…”

Developing a cellular automata model of urban growth to inform spatial policy for flood mitigation: A case study in Kampala, Uganda

“…However, there is no evidence of a particularly engaged citizenry in Upper Lubigi, on the subject of adaptation to flood risk. Chereni (2016) examined the Bwaise 3 informal settlement, located near the outlet of the Upper Lubigi sub-catchment. He found little evidence of robust social institutions promoting resilience: social networks somewhat influenced the adoption of mitigation measures (58% of surveyed households adopted such measures in response to social influence) but income level, occupation, perception of flood risk or exposure, and even experience of past floods were all uncorrelated to the adoption of household-level mitigation actions.…”