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Lessons learned
Mount Elgon is endowed with unique ecosystems
that provide ecosystem goods and services upon
which many communities depend. Despite the
amount of investment in mountain areas, landslides
still occur.
Several activities have been implemented to integrate
ecosystem-based adaptation measures into the
District Development Plans for Sironko, Bulambuli,
Kapchorwa and Kween.
Recommendations
The EAC and the Government of Kenya and
Uganda have put in place requisite policies and
legal frameworks, but the level of implementation
and compliance with these instruments is still very
low, especially at the regional level. There is need to
mainstream climate change adaptation at all levels,
from sectoral strategies and programmes down to
the grassroots level.
Furthermore, there is a need for an exclusive and
comprehensive climate change policy in Kenya and
a legislative framework that creates, or sets out a
mandate for a leading institution to spearhead the
nation’s efforts in climate change adaptation and
mitigation. In addition, climate change policy should
have a clear and comprehensive implementation
framework to ensure that funds are channelled into
projects that address the most vulnerable social
groups and regions.
Both Uganda and Kenya need to harmonize their
environmental policies because, at the moment,
they are scattered, disjointed and sometimes
contradictory, and are therefore failing to address
climate change and mitigation issues, particularly in
mountain areas.
A deadly landslide in Nametsi village, Bududa
district, on the slopes of Mount Elgon National
Park, left over 300 people buried, in addition to
homes and community health centres.