Limitations of existing landslide mitigation, detection and early warning approaches in Bududa District, Uganda

Landslides in Bududa District, Uganda, pose a persistent threat, with existing mitigation and early warning systems proving largely ineffective. This paper investigates the limitations of these approaches, focusing on the critical gaps in risk communication, underutilization of local indigenous knowledge, and lack of community trust that undermine current systems. Using a mixed-methods approach, qualitative data were collected through Focus Group Discussions, interviews, documentary reviews, and observations, which informed quantitative data gathered via survey questionnaires. The study had sample size of 199 participants, generated using Slovin's formula (1960), including 12 key informants. The findings revealed that current technology-based solutions are unreliable, while traditional methods are inefficient and lack comprehensive coverage. A central finding is the threatening disconnect between formal, top-down disaster management and the community's valuable local knowledge. The paper argues that current systems, which often focus narrowly on rainfall, fail to account for the complex, multi-causal nature of landslides and do not integrate with trusted community communication channels. Therefore, to genuinely enhance landslide risk reduction, Bududa District should adopt a customized, integrated, and holistic early warning system that seamlessly combines the precision of modern technology with the proven strength of local wisdom. By creating a system that is maintained, trusted, and co-managed by the community, it becomes possible to bridge the existing gaps, providing timely, accurate, and actionable alerts to save lives and mitigate the devastating impact of future landslides