Assessment of community resilience to climate change shocks in low-income neighborhoods of Masaka city, Uganda

Abstract

Cities worldwide face crises from climate change, compounded by socio-economic disparities, especially affecting low-income neighborhoods. This study evaluates community resilience to climate shocks in Masaka's low-income neighborhoods to guide responses and boost urban resilience in Uganda. Quantitative data were collected through surveys (n=160), and analyzed with chi-square test, PCA, and multiple regression. Qualitative data were collected through Key informant interviews (n=14), and focus groups (n=12) analyzed thematically to support the quantitative findings. Chi-square results for the association between low-income neighborhoods and climate shocks indicated that floods (0.017), storms (0.04) and drought (p=0.029) were the rampant climate shocks impacting houses, food security and clean water access. Key community resources contributing to the resilience based on their loadings included housing (0.687), sanitation (0.610), and public health (0.552). Resilience varied across all the low-income neighborhoods given the difference in social economic characteristics of residents. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that Education level, possession of productive assets, and monthly income influenced resilience in the low-income neighborhoods of Masaka City. Low-income neighborhoods in Masaka show varying resilience to climate impacts, with disparities in infrastructure, education, and resource access affecting adaptive capacity. To improve resilience, the study recommends investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, improving education and climate awareness programs, promoting financial inclusion, and community initiatives, along with targeted research and policies to support vulnerable groups.