Post-flood recovery in Kasese District: challenges of rebuilding agriculture and livelihoods
Kasese District, Uganda More than a year after the devastating floods and landslides in May 2024, thousands of households in Kasese District are still dealing with the aftermath: destroyed croplands, unstable terrain, displacement and tenuous food-security. Humanitarian and development agencies continue to mobilise, but the scale and terrain complicate the response.
On the ground
Many affected families live on steep mountain slopes; access remains challenging — aid workers must ascend 40-minute hikes to reach some areas.
The floods severely damaged agricultural plots, livestock and household assets; rebuilding is slow and the rainy-season risk remains.
Agencies emphasise that simply returning people to their homes is not enough: they require resilient rebuilding, land-slide mitigation, terracing, alternative livelihoods and durable infrastructure.
Why it matters
Kasese’s experience highlights the ongoing nature of climate-induced disasters: even after the initial event subsides, recovery can stretch for years, especially in remote, rugged terrain.
Uganda’s national climate-adaptation strategy must account for long-term displacement, land-use planning, early-warning for landslides and supporting affected communities effectively.
The livelihood losses (agriculture, livestock) hamper economic resilience and may increase risk of indebtedness or migration.
What to watch
Whether government, district and donor funding allocations shift from immediate relief to durable resilience building (e.g., terracing, drainage, slope-protection).
Monitoring of households’ recovery trajectories: how many have resumed full farming, are food-secure, or have moved to other income streams.
Community-based adaptation projects: whether locals are trained and empowered to build slope-stabilisation, soil conservation and alternative livelihoods.
