Factors Influencing Flood-Related Coping Appraisal Among Homeowners and Residents in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

This chapter analyzes homeowners’ and residents’ coping appraisal factors related to flood mitigation measures in three neighborhoods of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Using survey data from 612 households, we correlated flood risk and social vulnerability variables with coping appraisal elements and ran 72 measure-specific ordinal regression coping appraisal models. We conclude that vulnerability, flood severity, flood-related damage, and financial loss negatively influence perceptions of self-efficacy for structural measures. Homeowners and households with more effective measures already implemented have higher perceptions of self-efficacy to implement structural measures compared to tenants and those with less effective measures in place, respectively. Flood information and risk aversion have mixed influences on coping appraisal, perharps because the information sources for many are not reliable. Therefore, good risk communication by the municipality and other development actors can promote positive self-protective interventions.