Browsing by Author "Atuhairwe, Irene"

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    Community Perception, Community Participation, and Human-Wildlife Conflict Prevention in the Rwenzori Region.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2025-11-17) Atuhairwe, Irene
    This study examined the impact of community perception and community participation on the prevention of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the Rwenzori region. The objectives were to investigate the correlation between community perception and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) prevention, the correlation between community engagement and HWC prevention, and the combined effect of community perception and community participation on HWC prevention. A cross-sectional research approach was utilized, involving a sample of 319 household communities near Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, resulting in 319 respondents and an 83.1% response rate. The results indicated a significant positive association between community perception and HWC prevention (r = .388**, p < .01). A significant negative correlation was identified between community participation and HWC prevention (r = -.288**, p < .01). Community perception and participation collectively explained 41.7% of the variance in human-wildlife conflict prevention (Adjusted R² = 0.417), with community perception and community participation both significantly contributing to the model. The study advises conservation authorities in the Rwenzori region to prioritize enhancing community perceptions by improving perceived value, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms to bolster human-wildlife conflict prevention. Additionally, it suggests restructuring participation frameworks to ensure meaningful engagement through inclusive park management, policy-making, and benefit-sharing. Future study ought to investigate supplementary predictors of HWC prevention, given that the existing variables account for merely 41.7% of the variance, and should incorporate qualitative methodologies to obtain a more profound understanding of community dynamics.