Assessing the factors for the current distribution of small-scale industries and their impact on the environment in Ntungamo Municipality
Abstract
Although entrepreneurship is a growing phenomenon that has had significant impact in all
economies, it is generally recognized that small scale industries especially in developing
countries such as Uganda face unique challenges which influence their growth and
profitability. This ultimately diminishes their ability to contribute effectively to sustainable
development. Given the importance of small scale industries to a nation's economic growth,
and also the role that they play in poverty reduction, an understanding of the problems
negatively affecting them is a vital step in boosting their growth. The purpose of this study
was to assess the factors that have led to the current distribution of small scale industries and
their impact on the environment in Ntungamo Municipality. The objectives of the study
were:- to identify the different types and location of small scale industries within Ntungamo
Municipality ,to find out the factors that have led to the current distribution of small scale
industries Ntungamo in the Municipality , to find out the impacts of small scale industries
on the environment and to suggest recommendations for the proper location of the small
scale industries in Ntungamo Municipality.
The study adopted the descriptive survey design in its research design which was concerned
with recording, describing analyzing and researcher selected the sample for the study using
simple purposive and random sampling. Out of 149 small scale Industries, a sample of 30 %
of industries and 55 respondents were considered. Questionnaires and interview guides were
used as the main data collection instruments. The data received from the field was organized
and analyzed according to research objectives by the use of frequency tables, graphs and pie
charts. The study revealed that in order to promote proper location of small scale industries,
there is need to sensitize people or industrialists about the structure plan so that people can
establish industries according to the structure plan .The government can also construct
affordable houses in the proposed industrial area so that people can go there. Apart from
contributing to accelerated economic growth, small scale businesses have been a means
through which rapid industrialization has been achieved in developing countries apart from
improving forward and backward linkages between economically, socially and
geographically, diverse sectors of the economy. The public sector and formal financial
institutions should be sensitized on the value of participation in informal sector enterprises. A
major goal should be to empowerment of entrepreneurs as they constitute a social category
that is critical in sustainable development endeavors in order to enrich this research. It is
suggested that studies on assessing factors for the current distribution of small scale
industries and assessing their impact on the environment be conducted in other parts of
Ntungamo Municipality and Uganda at large to compare the findings.