Assessing the role of indigenous knowledge and practices for adaptation to effects of rainfall variability in Bududa

Abstract

This study assessed rainfall variability in Bukigai Sub County Bududa district, a factor behind rampant flooding and landslides and the role of indigenous knowledge and practices as an adaptation strategy in response to the variability. The study adopted a mixed research approach where quantitative data used included annual and seasonal rainfall from 1991-2021 sourced from UNMA. Qualitative data was collected by administering questionnaires to 100 randomly selected household members of Bukigai Sub County in the parishes of Bunamubi, Bumatanda and Bumangoye, as well as key informant interviews and observations by the researcher. Time series, regression and trend analysis were used to investigate the anomalies in annual and seasonal rainfall. Survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and regression to determine the dominant Indigenous adaptation practices a and the role it plays in climate variability adaptation. In addition, Probit tests were run to find the casual relationship between the use of IK as an adaptation strategy and selected socio-economic factors. Results revealed significant trends of seasonal and annual rainfall variability. 76% of the respondents believed that there was climate variability and 24% did not believe. 99% of the respondents further admitted practicing one or more Indigenous adaptation strategies to cope with the changing climate. The strategies practiced were food stocking (91%), crop diversifications (89%) and grain preservation (84%). Probit tests revealed that none of the tested socio-economic factors (age, income and education level) was statistically significant in influencing the use of IK for adaptation at 5% significance level. The probit test also gave a pseudo R2 of 6%, meaning that the socioeconomic factors tested could only explain 6% of the variations in the respondents’ engagement in use of IK.

In conclusion, the findings of this study underscored the importance of Indigenous Knowledge and practices in facilitating adaptation to climate variability in Uganda. While there is a widespread recognition of climate change impacts and a high level of engagement in indigenous knowledge and adaptation practices, socio-economic factors alone did not significantly influence the adoption of Indigenous Knowledge. Future research should explore additional contextual factors and socio-cultural dynamics that may shape adaptive behavior, in order to inform more effective and targeted interventions for building climate resilience in vulnerable communities.