Submission ID 118234
| Issue/Objective | The Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA), encompassing Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono districts, faces significant environmental hazards from the Kitezi landfill and recurring flooding events that threaten public health and infrastructure. This research addresses the critical need for integrated situational awareness frameworks to enhance perception, comprehension, and projection of environmental disaster scenarios. |
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| Methodology/Approach | This study employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative sensor data with qualitative stakeholder assessments. We installed 47 monitoring stations across KMA, including soil moisture sensors, methane detectors, and hydrological gauges at the Kitezi landfill and flood-prone watersheds. Machine learning algorithms were developed using historical environmental data, supplemented by satellite imagery. Community engagement was conducted through interviews with 128 residents and 17 focus groups to incorporate indigenous knowledge into situational awareness models. |
| Results | The enhanced situational awareness system predicted three potential landfill slope failures at Kitezi with 89% accuracy and an average lead time of 72 hours. The flood awareness component demonstrated 83% accuracy in forecasting five major flooding events with a 48-hour warning period. Implementation reduced disaster response time by 64% and decreased property damage by approximately 37%. Integration of community-based observations improved situational comprehension by identifying localized warning signs not captured by instrumentation. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The research revealed critical interconnections between solid waste management and urban flooding previously unaddressed in disaster management frameworks. While technological components provided quantifiable situational parameters, traditional ecological knowledge enhanced contextual understanding of environmental changes preceding disasters. Resource constraints remain a challenge for maintaining heightened situational awareness, particularly in rapid urban expansion zones.This study demonstrates that an integrated situational awareness system for KMA provides crucial lead time for disaster response. The combined technological and community-based approach creates a robust awareness framework. Further development should focus on system sustainability and strengthening institutional capacity to convert situation awareness into effective action. The approach offers a model for other East African urban centers facing similar environmental hazards. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Lydia Nakire Infectious Disease institute Vivian Ntono Infectious Disease institute Odaga Brian Kampala Metropolitan Area Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Allan Muruta Ministry of Health Uganda Odaga Brian Kampala Metropolitan Area Public Health Emergency Operations Centre |
