Traditional knowledge and local adaptation strategies for climate resilient water management in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Climate change exacerbates water insecurity across Eastern Uganda by increasing thefrequency and intensity of droughts, floods, and unpredictable rainfall fluctuations,which substantially compromise water availability, accessibility, and quality. WhileTraditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and community-based adaptation strategieshave been reported to support local resilience, their systematic incorporation intoformal water management frameworks remains inadequate. A narrative review of peer-reviewed publications spanning 2015–2025 was conducted across Scopus, Web ofScience, Google Scholar, and grey literature. The synthesis examined key thematic areasincluding climate stressors, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, household and community adaptation strategies, gender and intergenerational roles, and policy gaps. Communities employ TEK strategies including rainwater harvesting and communalgovernance structures wherein women, elders, and youth actively participate in watermanagement decisions. While TEK approaches complement contemporary methodssuch as hybrid technologies, top-down project implementation frequently conflicts withestablished local practices. Significant policy gaps persist across several dimensions:stakeholder participation, gender inclusion, knowledge documentation, and resourceallocation. Additionally, further research is warranted to assess the efficacy of adaptation strategies and to understand the dynamics of collaborative knowledge production.The integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge into water policy frameworks,achieved through participatory and culturally grounded approaches that prioritizegender inclusion, can foster more equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient watermanagement systems.