Applying GIS to monitor school exposure to landslide hazards in disaster-prone areas of Mount Elgon in Uganda

Bibliographic Data

ID21835429
AuthorsFlavia J Akello (0009-0008-9961-3267, Makerere University, corresponding author), Yeeko Kisira (0000-0001-8072-6781, Gulu University), Bob Nakileza (0000-0002-9718-0460, Makerere University), Bob R Nakileza (Makerere University), Fredrick Tumwine (0000-0002-7759-8392, Makerere University), Shafiq Nedala (0000-0001-7326-2851, Makerere University), Martin Ssennoga (0000-0002-2506-0478, Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR), National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), Kampala, Uganda)
Year2026
Volume45
Issue1
Pages52-78
Publication date2026-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAfrican Geographical Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1937-6812 • E-ISSN: 2163-2642
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19376812.2025.2480390
OpenAlexW4408804262
LanguageEN
References cited67

Landslides, especially in mountainous regions, pose a serious threat to schools and learners, though these threats have often been neglected. This paper presents the findings of a study on monitoring school exposure to landslide hazards and assessing preparedness in the Mount Elgon area of Uganda. A total of 73 schools were mapped and a survey administered 152 face-to-face interviews with teachers using semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative data were obtained through eight key informant interviews and four focus group discussions. ArcGIS 10.5 Weighted Overlay Analysis was used to analyze school exposure based on topographic conditions, landslide conditioning factors, infrastructure, and population. Quantitative analysis for school preparedness was done through SPSS. The outcome of the overlay revealed that about 37% of schools were highly exposed, 34% were moderately exposed, and 28.8% had a low level of exposure. Most schools fall within altitudes of 1,200 to 2,300 meters, which has increased their vulnerability due to high rainfall amounts received. Infrastructure was substandard, with only 34% of schools having permanent structures, and preparedness was very low, with 84% unprepared. This study concludes that insufficient preparedness and high exposure threaten the safety of schools. Thus, it is recommended as a matter of urgency that school relocation, infrastructure upgrade, integration of disaster preparedness in the curriculum, and increasing government and community support be undertaken in the Mt Elgon region and other similar areas

Environmental health · Geography · Geotechnical engineering · Landslide · Mount · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Disaster Management and Resilience · Engineering · Flood Risk Assessment and Management · Landslides and related hazards · Medicine

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