Browsing by Author "Muhangura, Bright Louis"

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    Socioeconomic Factors, Farmers’ Perceptions, And Adaptation Strategies to The Impact of Climate Change: A Case Study of South Western Uganda.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2026-11-06) Muhangura, Bright Louis
    Climate change poses a critical challenge across all countries, with economically vulnerable nations and regions bearing the brunt of its impacts. This study explored how socio-economic factors and farmers’ perceptions influence the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies in South Western Uganda. Grounded in the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the study applied a cross-sectional quantitative design targeting 384 farming households in Ibanda and Kazo districts. Data were collected using structured interviews and analyzed through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with Smart PLS Version 4 to assess both direct and indirect effects among the study constructs. The analysis revealed that socio-economic factors measured by farm size and access to resources, exerted a significant and positive influence on farmers’ ability to implement adaptation strategies measured by diversification and improved farming practices. Similarly, farmers’ perceptions of climate risks, perceived vulnerability, and awareness of extreme weather events were also found to positively and significantly predict adaptive behavior. Additionally, perception factors were found to have a partial mediation effect on the pathway between socio-economic status and adaptation strategies, suggesting that material access alone is insufficient without adequate risk awareness and self-efficacy. Findings of this study highlight that effective climate adaptation among smallholder farmers depends on both structural enablers and cognitive readiness. Policies and interventions should therefore integrate resource support with strong behavior change, communication, farmer training, and participatory risk assessment. Such a dual approach could foster inclusive resilience, improve agricultural sustainability, and enhance food security in climate vulnerable rural settings. These findings contribute to the growing body of empirical evidence supporting localized, theory driven strategies for climate adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa.