摘要
This paper examines the livelihood challenges experienced in Rwanjaba Lakeshore Community during the period of low water level in Lake Victoria between 2004 and 2007 and identifies the livelihood coping strategies that were adopted to address them.A total of 55 households were randomly sampled and the data collection methods included household questionnaires and participant observations.The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS) and the results presented with the help of descriptive statistics.The livelihood challenges experienced during the low lake water level included fish shortage(34.5%),household food scarcity(23.6%),sex for fish(18.2%),family breakdown(12.7%),increased theft(7.2%) and accidents due to the exposed rocks in the lake(3.6%).The livelihood coping strategies adopted to redress the challenges included causal labour(32.7%),maize roasting(23.6%),sand mining(18.2%),selling of snacks(12.7%),selling household property(9.1%) and resorting shop and market credits(3.6%).The paper proposes a number of recommendations for improving the livelihood of the community ranging from policy reforms to the diversification of activities.
This paper examines the livelihood challenges expe- rienced in Rwanjaba Lakeshore Community during the period of low water level in Lake Victoria between 2004 and 2007 and identifies the livelihood coping strategies that were adopted to ad- dress them. A total of 55 households were randomly sampled and the data collection methods included household questionnaires and participant observations. The data were analyzed using the Statis- tical Package for Social Science （SPSS） and the results presented with the help of descriptive statistics. The livelihood challenges experienced during the low lake water level included fish shortage （34.5%）, household food scarcity （23.6%）, sex for fish （18.2%）, family breakdown （12.7%）, increased theft （7.2%） and accidents due to the exposed rocks in the lake （3.6%）. The livelihood coping strategies adopted to redress the challenges included causal labour （32.7%）, maize roasting （23.6%）, sand mining （18.2%）, selling of snacks （12.7%）, selling household property （9.1%） and resorting shop and market credits （3.6%）. The paper proposes a number of recommendations for improving the livelihood of the community ranging from policy reforms to the diversification of activities.
