Traditional knowledge and local adaptation strategies for climate resilient water management in Eastern Uganda

Climate change exacerbates water insecurity across Eastern Uganda by increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts, floods, and unpredictable rainfall fluctuations, which substantially compromise water availability, accessibility, and quality. While Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and community-based adaptation strategies have been reported to support local resilience, their systematic incorporation into formal water management frameworks remains inadequate. A narrative review of peer-reviewed publications spanning 2015–2025 was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and grey literature. The synthesis examined key thematic areas including climate stressors, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, household and community adaptation strategies, gender and intergenerational roles, and policy gaps. Communities employ TEK strategies including rainwater harvesting and communal governance structures wherein women, elders, and youth actively participate in water management decisions. While TEK approaches complement contemporary methods such as hybrid technologies, top-down project implementation frequently conflicts with established local practices. Significant policy gaps persist across several dimensions: stakeholder participation, gender inclusion, knowledge documentation, and resource allocation. Additionally, further research is warranted to assess the efficacy of adaptation strategies and to understand the dynamics of collaborative knowledge production. The integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge into water policy frameworks, achieved through participatory and culturally grounded approaches that prioritize gender inclusion, can foster more equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient water management systems.