Effects Of Population Growth And Urban Development On Wetlands In Kampala City: A Case Of Kansanga Wetland

ABSTRACT

This study on the "Effects of population growth and urban development on the Kansanga

wetland" aimed to determine the historical trends of population growth rate and urban

development of Kampala, determine the integrity of Kansanga wetland for the past 10 to

15 years, establish the activities of the population and how they affect the wetland, and

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration ........................................................................................................ I

Approval ............................................................................................................................. 11

Dedication ......................................................................................................................... 111

Acknowledgement. ............................................................................................................ IV

Abstract .............................................................................................................................. V

Table of contents .............................................................................................................. VI

List of tables ...................................................................................................................... IX

List of figures .................................................................................................... X

List of plates .................................................................................................... XI

List of acronyms ............................................................................................................... XI I

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background to the study ................................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the problem ............................................................................... 3

1.3 Objectives of the study ................................................................................. .4

1 .4 Research questions ..................................................................................... .4

1.5 Significance of the study ............................................................................... .4

1.6 Scope of the study ........................................................................................ 5

1.7 Conceptual framework ................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ 8

LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................... 8

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 8

2.2 Population Growth and Urban Development. .................................................. 8

2.2.1 Population Growth .................................................................................... 8

2.2.2 Urban Development. ................................................................................ 12

2.3: Wetlands integrity .................................................................................... 14

2.4 Activities of the population that affect the wetlands .......................................... 16

2.5 Effects of population growth and urban development on Wetlands ..................... 19

VI

CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 21

METHODS ....................................................................................................................... 21

3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 21

3.2 Research Design ..................................................................................... 21

3.3 Study area .............................................................................................. 21

3.4 Population .............................................................................................. 24

3.5 Sampling Techniques and sample size ......................................................... 24

3.6 Research instruments ............................................................................... 25

3.6.1 Questionnaires ........................................................................................ 25

3.6.2 Interviews ............................................................................................... 25

3.6.3 Focus Group Discussions ......................................................................... 26

3.6.4 Observation ............................................................................................ 26

3.6.5 Reviewed literature ................................................................................... 26

3.6:6 Photography ............................................................................................ 26

3.6:7 Validity and Reliability ................................................................................ 26

3. 7 Data analysis ........................................................................................... 27

3.7 Limitations of the study .............................................................................. 27

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................ 29

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ........................................................................................ 29

4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 29

4.2 Respondents characteristics ................................................................................ 29

4.3. Population growth and Urban Development of Kampala ...................................... 31

4.3.1 Population Growth ............................................................................................... 31

4.3.2 Urban Development of Kampala .......................................................................... 34

4.3.2.1 Physical expansion of Kampala ........................................................................... 35

4.3.2.2 H01.!sing Developments in Kampala ..................................................................... 35

4.3.2.3 Unplanned Developments in Kampala ................................................................. 38

4.3.2.4 Industrialization in Kampala ................................................................................. 40

4.3.2.5 Effects of urban Development on Wetlands ......................................................... 41

4.3.3 Land use/land-cover changes and wetland degradation by Population growth

and urban development in Kampala ..................................................................... 41

4.4 Integrity of Kansanga wetland .............................................................................. 43

Vll

4.5 Activities of the population and how they affect Kansanga wetland ........................ 49

4.5.1 Construction and establishment of settlement ........................................................ 50

4.5.2 Farming ................................................................................................................... 52

4.5.3 Over harvesting of wetland Vegetation ................................................................... 56

4.5.4 Brick making ........................................................................................................... 59

4.5.5 Sand mining ............................................................................................................ 59

4.6 Effects of population growth and urban development on Kansanga wetland .......... 60

4.6.1 Poor water quality and availability ........................................................................... 61

4.6.2 Biodiversity loss .............. : ....................................................................................... 61

4.6.3 Reduction of wetland products ................................................................................ 63

4.6.4 Soil degradation ...................................................................................................... 64

4.6.5 Habitat destruction .................................................................................................. 65

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 68

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................... 68

5.1 Summary .............................................................................................................. 68

5.1.1 Population growth and urban development of Kampala ....................................... 68

5.1.2 Integrity of Kansanga wetland for the past 10 to 15 years ................................... 69

5.1.3 Population activities that affect Kansanga wetland .............................................. 70

5.1.4 Effects of population growth and urban development on Kansanga wetland ....... 70

5.2 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 70 ·

5.3 Recommendations ....... , ....................................................................................... 71

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 74

APPENDICES .................................................................................................................. 81

Appendix I: Interview guide ............................................................................................ 81

Appendix II: Questionnaire for agencies/organisations ................................................... 82

Appendix Ill: Questionnaire for the community ................................................................ 87

Appendix IV: Introductory Letter ........................................................................... 91

analysed the effects of population growth and urban development on the wetland.

Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used where 84 respondents were

sampled in the study which included KCC officials, the wetland occupants, NEMA officials

and the area district environmental officer. Out of the 84 only 46 respondents returned

filled questionnaires and 20 were interviewed making a total of 66 respondents.

The findings indicate that Kansanga wetland is highly encroached by the increasing

population of Kampala City, urban development and urban human activities as the major

threats to Kansanga wetland, greatly affecting the wetland's size, biodiversity, integrity

and productivity. The study findings confirmed the disappearance of some of the species

that formally existed in this wetland which included the sitatunga and the Typha sp (cat

tails).The size of the wetland was also found to have been modified by 88% compared to

58% by NBS (2000) and the estimated current size under intact wetland vegetation is only

0.54 km2 out of 4.54 km2 of the original size.

Among the major recommendations were that the government, NEMA, the lead or

responsible ministry and other private conservation organisations should purchase plots

from the wetland from the landlords who got leases before the Constitution (1995) and

establish the entire wetland as wildlife refuge, sanctuary, or special conservation area.

This will preserve the wetland in its natural state and protect it from destructive human

development activities. Decentralisation of services to overcome the rural urban migration

and promotion of contraceptive use to check the population growth among others. This

can be done through the enactment and implementation of policies and laws, which

address lfiP. issues revealed through this study.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration ........................................................................................................ I

Approval ............................................................................................................................. 11

Dedication ......................................................................................................................... 111

Acknowledgement. ............................................................................................................ IV

Abstract .............................................................................................................................. V

Table of contents .............................................................................................................. VI

List of tables ...................................................................................................................... IX

List of figures .................................................................................................... X

List of plates .................................................................................................... XI

List of acronyms ............................................................................................................... XI I

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background to the study ................................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the problem ............................................................................... 3

1.3 Objectives of the study ................................................................................. .4

1 .4 Research questions ..................................................................................... .4

1.5 Significance of the study ............................................................................... .4

1.6 Scope of the study ........................................................................................ 5

1.7 Conceptual framework ................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ 8

LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................... 8

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 8

2.2 Population Growth and Urban Development. .................................................. 8

2.2.1 Population Growth .................................................................................... 8

2.2.2 Urban Development. ................................................................................ 12

2.3: Wetlands integrity .................................................................................... 14

2.4 Activities of the population that affect the wetlands .......................................... 16

2.5 Effects of population growth and urban development on Wetlands ..................... 19

VI

CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 21

METHODS ....................................................................................................................... 21

3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 21

3.2 Research Design ..................................................................................... 21

3.3 Study area .............................................................................................. 21

3.4 Population .............................................................................................. 24

3.5 Sampling Techniques and sample size ......................................................... 24

3.6 Research instruments ............................................................................... 25

3.6.1 Questionnaires ........................................................................................ 25

3.6.2 Interviews ............................................................................................... 25

3.6.3 Focus Group Discussions ......................................................................... 26

3.6.4 Observation ............................................................................................ 26

3.6.5 Reviewed literature ................................................................................... 26

3.6:6 Photography ............................................................................................ 26

3.6:7 Validity and Reliability ................................................................................ 26

3. 7 Data analysis ........................................................................................... 27

3.7 Limitations of the study .............................................................................. 27

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................ 29

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ........................................................................................ 29

4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 29

4.2 Respondents characteristics ................................................................................ 29

4.3. Population growth and Urban Development of Kampala ...................................... 31

4.3.1 Population Growth ............................................................................................... 31

4.3.2 Urban Development of Kampala .......................................................................... 34

4.3.2.1 Physical expansion of Kampala ........................................................................... 35

4.3.2.2 H01.!sing Developments in Kampala ..................................................................... 35

4.3.2.3 Unplanned Developments in Kampala ................................................................. 38

4.3.2.4 Industrialization in Kampala ................................................................................. 40

4.3.2.5 Effects of urban Development on Wetlands ......................................................... 41

4.3.3 Land use/land-cover changes and wetland degradation by Population growth

and urban development in Kampala ..................................................................... 41

4.4 Integrity of Kansanga wetland .............................................................................. 43

Vll

4.5 Activities of the population and how they affect Kansanga wetland ........................ 49

4.5.1 Construction and establishment of settlement ........................................................ 50

4.5.2 Farming ................................................................................................................... 52

4.5.3 Over harvesting of wetland Vegetation ................................................................... 56

4.5.4 Brick making ........................................................................................................... 59

4.5.5 Sand mining ............................................................................................................ 59

4.6 Effects of population growth and urban development on Kansanga wetland .......... 60

4.6.1 Poor water quality and availability ........................................................................... 61

4.6.2 Biodiversity loss .............. : ....................................................................................... 61

4.6.3 Reduction of wetland products ................................................................................ 63

4.6.4 Soil degradation ...................................................................................................... 64

4.6.5 Habitat destruction .................................................................................................. 65

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 68

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................... 68

5.1 Summary .............................................................................................................. 68

5.1.1 Population growth and urban development of Kampala ....................................... 68

5.1.2 Integrity of Kansanga wetland for the past 10 to 15 years ................................... 69

5.1.3 Population activities that affect Kansanga wetland .............................................. 70

5.1.4 Effects of population growth and urban development on Kansanga wetland ....... 70

5.2 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 70 ·

5.3 Recommendations ....... , ....................................................................................... 71

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 74

APPENDICES .................................................................................................................. 81

Appendix I: Interview guide ............................................................................................ 81

Appendix II: Questionnaire for agencies/organisations ................................................... 82

Appendix Ill: Questionnaire for the community ................................................................ 87

Appendix IV: Introductory Letter ........................................................................... 91