Welcome to the Anthropocene: the climate crisis and the predicament of Katonga and Bududa communities.
“Across the world, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly ending the long-running debate over the reality of climate change. Not only is it real, but it’s also here, and its effects are giving rise to frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster.” Barack Obama
In March 2020, Uganda was shocked by the news of a landslide in Bududa district that wreaked havoc. The landslide was as a result of the loosening of the soils following the onset of torrential rains on the 25th of February 2010. Nametsi Village was hit the hardest, as 365 people died following a debris flow on the 1st of March[1]. Houses, markets, as well as churches were destroyed, roads were blocked, loss of life, livestock and property, and destruction of infrastructure.
Several people were reported missing including children who had taken shelter in a health center that was subsequently destroyed due to further extreme weather events.
Authorities promptly employed a disaster response strategy to help the affected persons which included distributing relief items, offering medical care, and eventual relocation of the displaced person. After handling the crisis, authorities felt the situation had been comprehensively addressed, but little did we know that this was only the beginning of what would become the ‘new normal’ around the Elgon Mountain areas.
Bududa district, located about 275km (170 miles) north-east of the capital Kampala nestled in the vicinity of Mount Elgon, has earned a notorious reputation as a landslide-prone zone within Uganda[2]. The erosion of slopes caused by these landslides poses a critical issue in the region, not only affecting humans’ but also far-reaching environmental repercussions and the specter of future food shortages.
The history of landslides in Bududa
The landslide-prone areas in Uganda include Rwenzori, Mount Elgon and the Kigezi regions. These are characterized by dense populations making them high-risk areas. Landslides have been occurring in Bududa and historical accounts reveal that between 1997 to 1999, the relentless onslaught of 66 landslides claimed the lives of 48 individuals and displaced more than 10,000(Kitutu,2004). However, recent landslide occurrences have been more catastrophic compared to those in the past[3]. The grim toll continued into the subsequent years, with 2010 and 2011 bearing witness to the tragic loss of around 380 lives due to landslides within this very region. In October 2018, over 20 people were killed in landslides, and on 3rd December 2019, a downpour that lasted almost 11 hours led to landslides and movement of soil mass down the steep hills of Bududa district that killed over 28 people and 499 houses destroyed affecting the 6 villages of Bushika, Bushibekye, and Bunabutiti Sub Counties[4].
What exactly is causing the rampant landslides?
Bududa’s location on the slopes of Mountain Elgon makes it prone to landslides. This coupled with the unusual increase in rainfall patterns escalates the hazards to disasters. The Mount Elgon area has a moist to moderately dry climate, with annual average precipitation ranging from 1000 to 2500 mm, over twice the national average of 1200mm. The Anthropocene epoch seems to be one of the catalyzing agents of the rampant disasters. Climate change impacts that include extreme rainfall events, hailstorms and unpredictable rainfall frequency become worse once they fuse with unsustainable destructive human activities.
The only source of livelihood for local communities around Elgon Mountain is depending on land for their survival[5] with 69% of the households depending on subsistence farming for their income[6]. They carry out Agricultural activities that involve the cultivation of crops like bananas, beans, maize, cassava, coffee, tea, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, and livestock rearing. The residents have narrated how fertile the slopes are and most of them have never experienced hunger. The Elgon mountains have very rich fertile soils for Arabica coffee cultivation[7] with the region being among the leaders in Uganda’s coffee production. When rescue interventions come, there is a dilemma between leaving the fertile ancestral lands and moving to other areas[8]. Their fear is that most government interventions of relocating them end up sending them to areas with poor soil conditions that worsen their livelihoods[9].
The population of Bududa is high with reports showing that 1,059 people live in every kilometer. This is seven times the national average of 161 persons per square kilometer[10].
A study conducted by UNESCO reveals that the level of Education in the district of Bududa is low. 10% of the population have not attained formal education and 60% have only attained up to primary level way below the Uganda literacy rate of 76.53%[11]. This could partly explain some of the reasons why the locals are moving to the steep slopes and why the environmental problems are immense[12]. They are cultivating the slopes, where most of the land is loose. That is one of the reasons landslides have increased annually and yet in the past a landslide would occur after 10 years. The locals have cut most of the trees that existed on the slopes without questioning the likely impacts this could have on the fragile soils. Trees play an important role in stabilizing steep slopes by reducing soil erosion occurrences, binding soil particles together, and covering the soil. However, in Bududa, unsustainable Agricultural practices have led to the clearing of the vegetation cover, and no forests were left behind. More intense precipitation events that can be continuous for up to two days worsen the situation coupled with the lack of vegetation cover such as trees and undergrowth to reduce soil erosion which weakens the soil structure.
What can be done?
Nature-based solutions can provide sustainable solutions. Mountain slopes are fragile lands that are prone to soil erosion and thus landslides. Serious afforestation and reafforestation programs are needed to cover these bare grounds with vegetation. Of course, we can also employ hybrid methods like mechanization mixed with vegetation planting however this might be costly. Maintaining or promoting the planting of indigenous tree species that are adapted to the local solutions and Agroforestry systems could offer some solutions. Grasses like the case of steep slopes in India can also stabilize slopes and reduce landslides occurrence[13].
If the unexpected rainfall amounts increase, these will worsen the situation. To counter this, settlement patterns need to be changed, promoting community sensitization, encouraging family planning, relocating people from risk areas, and creating alternative income-generating activities. This is crucial to lessen pressure on land. Steep slopes and dykes should be avoided for settlement purposes[14].
The Katonga River
River Katonga is located in southwestern Uganda and runs over 220 km flowing from Lake Victoria northwards into Lake Wamala and then to Lake Edward. The history of the Katonga River is complex and multi-layered, with different groups of people holding different views of the river. For some, it is a reminder of the tragic events that took place during the wars of the 1980s, while for others it is a source of food and livelihood. The different perceptions of the river reflect the diverse experiences and histories of the people who live along its banks. It also highlights the complex relationship between humans and the environment and the way that history and memory can shape that relationship[15].
The Katonga River has been expanding over time and the first reports were reported according to The New Vision in 2000 with locals claiming that the river was slowly turning into a lake. During this period, Uganda received heavy amounts of rainfall leading to an increase in the water levels of the river. This made the elders start reporting that the gods had decided to turn the river into a lake. The history of Lake Wamala and Nalubaale (Victoria) as narrated by elders is that Nalubaale, Katonga, and Wamala are gods who are related and responsible for the waters in these water bodies and want to turn River Katonga into a lake. However, this is not the cause, and it is evident that the changes are an impact of climate change that is being accelerated by anthropogenic activities.
It has been 4 months since the 11th of May when the Katonga River burst its banks leading to flooding. The floods cut off the movement of people from Kampala to the Masaka and western parts of Uganda.
The story of the Katonga River’s expansion and the flooding events that have followed is a fascinating example of how climate change and human activities can interact to cause environmental problems. The elders’ belief that the gods are responsible for these events is understandable, given their traditional understanding of the world. However, the scientific evidence shows that these events are the result of a combination of natural processes and human activities, not the will of the gods. This is a reminder that it is important to have a clear understanding of the causes of environmental problems so that we can develop effective solutions.
Flood events have indeed been happening in Uganda for a long time, but they have become more severe in recent years due to the combined effects of climate change and poor land management practices. Flood mitigation is one of the many benefits that wetlands provide, but this can only be achieved if the wetlands are intact and not fragmented by human activities such as rice farming. Degraded wetlands lose, their ability to absorb and store water, leading to more frequent and severe flooding.
Poverty and ineffective policies are also contributing factors to the degradation of wetlands. As the population increases, people have resorted to cultivating the wetlands and relying on them for water supply and farming. Brickmaking has led to the reclamation and degradation of wetlands. These anthropogenic pressures are exacerbated by climate change, which can cause increased droughts and extreme weather events that further degrade the wetlands.
The unsustainable practices are a major contributor to wetland degradation, and their cumulative effects are evident in the form of increased flooding and other environmental issues. This is a clear example of the Anthropocene, the geological epoch where humans have become the dominant force shaping the Earth’s systems. These practices are not sustainable in the long term, and may lead to a lost war against nature. The need for social discipline and a change in mindset is crucial to reversing this trend.
Nature is a vital fabric of our society and economy, and it is our moral responsibility to coexist with it rather than destroy it for short-term gain. To achieve this goal, we must collaborate to end environmental destruction, cultivate social norms that discourage activities that endanger the environment, while holding violators of these norms accountable. It is imperative that we recognize the value of nature sooner rather than later, to ensure a sustainable future for our planet and all its inhabitants[16].
The government must play its role in strengthening environmental protection laws and enforcing them with swift consequences. Local leaders and law enforcement must be held responsible for their mandate of holding the environment in trust for their people, and NEMA should develop a framework to recognize and reward those making efforts to conserve the environment while punishing those who engage in activities that harm it. It is important to note that inaction is a decision in itself, and we must decide to take action now to protect our environment.
In conclusion the cases of Katonga and Bududa show the interconnectedness of human activities, climate change, and environmental disasters. In both cases, human activities such as deforestation, unplanned infrastructural development, and poor land management have led to increased erosion and destabilization of the land, which makes it more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The resulting floods and landslides have had devastating impacts on the communities living in those areas. It’s a clear illustration of how the Anthropocene is a time of both human-driven change and increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change. This highlights the urgent need for action on climate change and human-induced environmental degradation. While local efforts such as reforestation and improved land management can help to mitigate the impacts, the scale of the problem that is climate change requires global action. Only by working together, we hope to avert even greater disasters in the future. Climate Change is real and already happening.
[1] “Landslides in eastern Uganda displace 3,500 people – Anadolu Ajansı.” 14 Oct. 2021, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/landslides-in-eastern-uganda-displace-3-500-people/2392210.
[2] “Hundreds feared dead after Uganda landslides – BBC News.” 3 Mar. 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8545005.stm.
[3] “Large Landslide in Uganda – NASA Earth Observatory.” 12 Mar. 2010, https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/43130/large-landslide-in-uganda.
[4] “Uganda: Landslides Final Report – DREF Operation MDRUG043.” 1 Mar. 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/uganda-landslides-final-report-dref-operation-mdrug043.
[5] “3. LANDSLIDES IN UGANDA. 3.1 Landslide hazard assessment..” https://unesco-uganda.ug/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/LandSlides-In-Uganda.pdf.
[6] “Bududa District – ubos.org.” https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/2014CensusProfiles/BUDUDA.pdf.
[7] “How the female coffee farmers of Uganda are building their livelihoods.” 14 Aug. 2023, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/female-coffee-farmers-uganda-building-livelihoods.
[8] “Why Bududa landslide victims decline resettlement – Uganda.” 7 Jun. 2019, https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/why-bududa-landslide-victims-decline-resettlement.
[9] “Why Bududa landslide victims decline resettlement – Uganda.” 7 Jun. 2019, https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/why-bududa-landslide-victims-decline-resettlement.
[10] “National Population and Housing Census 2014 – ubos.org.” https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/03_20182014_National_Census_Main_Report.pdf.
[11] “Uganda | UNESCO UIS.” https://uis.unesco.org/en/country/ug?theme=culture.
[12] “Uganda: Why Bududa? – ReliefWeb.” 5 Mar. 2010, https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/uganda-why-bududa.
[13] “3. LANDSLIDES IN UGANDA. 3.1 Landslide hazard assessment..” https://unesco-uganda.ug/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/LandSlides-In-Uganda.pdf.
[14] “Curbing landslide risk in Uganda – UNDRR.” 2 Feb. 2016, http://www.undrr.org/news/curbing-landslide-risk-uganda.
[15] “The Tale Of River Katonga – New Vision Official.” https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1025882/tale-river-katonga.
[16] “Katonga, Rwizi burst their banks – The Independent Uganda.” 26 May. 2023, https://www.independent.co.ug/katonga-rwizi-burst-their-banks/.