The nature and impact of environmental pollution in Urban Industrial Areas.
Abstract
Environmental pollution continues to manifest itself in Kampala especially in industrialized
areas and areas of high population, such as the Old Industrial Area. Air pollution that is emitted
from the industries such as steel rolling industries, and the traffic congestion around this area
leads to a lot of vehicular fumes emissions that are hazardous to human health. There are also
foul smells from some industries that pollute the air inhaled by the residents of the area for
example those living in Namuwongo slum. Land pollution, caused by the open dumping of
certain industrial residues, and water pollution caused by the dumping of untreated industrial
wastes are all hazardous to the environment. The sitting of some industries in the wet land is also
a reason beyond doubt to identify the industrial area as an enemy to the natural environment,
since there is a loss of biodiversity.
The study aimed to analyze the nature and extent of environmental pollution in the old industrial
area. It was specifically intended to investigate the nature of environmental pollution, the major
causes of environmental pollution, and the extent of environmental pollution in the old industrial
area and to suggest possible solutions to the causes and effects of environmental pollution in the
study area.
Both primary and secondary methods of data collection were used. Primary data was obtained by
observation, interviews, and by use of questionnaires to obtain data from the field. Secondary
data was obtained by reviewing the existing written literature about the same geographical area,
or about a different area, but with a similar or related topic. The data was collected and analyzed
in form of tables and graphs basing on the percentages of responses.
The majority of the respondents (56.25) % identified Air pollution as the most prevalent form of
pollution, 31.25% said water pollution was the greatest, 10% of the respondents identified
soil/land pollutions the highest in the area while only 2.5 percent identified noise pollution as the
greatest nature of environmental pollution in the Old Industrial Area.
The study revealed that environmental pollution is on the rise as evidenced by the responses
from the interviews. Overall, 41.25% indicated that the impact of pollution on their health and
environment is very much. This is an indication that if no measures are taken, the communities
around the industrial area are at risk of more complicated health hazards from pollution.
In a move to overcome the causes and effects of environmental pollution in urban industrial
areas, policy makers should make stricter laws that aim at overcoming pollution. Awareness
creation and sensitization of the inhabitants of the area should be made, and these laws should be
enforced. There should be government monitoring of industrial activities especially at night; shift
of industries to other parts of Kampala and their decentralization to other parts of the country;
and adoption of clean production technologies by industries.