An assessment of the environmental and social impacts of stone quarrying; a case study of Nakigalala Nkungu-Lutale Kajjansi Town Council in Wakiso district.

Abstract

Stone quarrying has gradually changed from small scale during ancient times in 1600s where rock quarrying was limited to surface deposits and glacial erratic field boulders to large scale where by today, it is being carried out on large scale. The study was about assessing the environmental and social impacts of stone quarrying in Nakigalala, Nkungu-Lutale, Sissa Sub County in Wakiso District and the specific objectives included assessing the social and environmental effects of stone quarrying in Nakigalala of Wakiso District. The study population was men of about 53.1%, women of about 46.9% and children workers at Nakigalala stone quarry. An exploratory study was adopted and both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were employed with a sample size of 52 households, 44 quarry workers, 4 quarry managers, 1health service provider and one key informant. The sampling methods used were stratified sampling for households, purposive for both quarry managers and health service provider and census for quarry workers. Data was analyzed using excel and SPSS and presented inform of tables, charts and graphs. Stone quarrying has been recognized as a socio economic activity serving as a fundamental source of livelihood for some communities such as development of small trading centers , roads among others however the operations also had great negative effects on the health of workers such as respiratory diseases like silicolisis, land degradation plus water and air pollution . The study recommended providing quarry workers with protective equipment by THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT , massive sensitization of quarry workers and also strengthening and enforcement of rules and regulations pertaining to ensure sustainable quarrying activities in the area.