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Article History

Accepted: 19 June 2025

First Online: 21 July 2025

Declarations

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: We rigorously adhered to ethical guidelines to ensure the rights, confidentiality, and informed consent of all participants. Our study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) at Makerere University’s Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics, and Climatic Science. Copies of the ethical clearance were provided to all data collection units. To mitigate potential risks, we introduced ourselves to Local Councils (LC1) in the sub-counties visited, clearly explaining the purpose of our visit. Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted in neutral locations due to the presence of threats and conflicts in the study areas, which facilitated collaboration and efficiency. Regular updates and debriefings were conducted to monitor progress and address challenges. A WhatsApp group was established for research assistants and principal investigators to ensure rapid communication and response to inquiries. The wording of questions in our tools was carefully revised to ensure inclusivity of both genders. Field assistants of both genders were involved to create a supportive environment. This gender-sensitive approach aims to balance contributions, ensure accurate findings, and address gender-related inequalities for equitable representation.

: The authors declare no competing interests.