The impacts of urbanization on wetlands; a case study of Bwaise wetland in Kampala

Abstract

This research focused on the impacts of urbanization on wetlands, a case study of Bwaise wetland in Kawempe Division, Kampala. Over the years, Kampala has experienced a high rate of urbanization, this has led to massive encroachment into wetlands and other urban ecological systems such as forests, green belts to cater for the growing population with need for more land for residential, commercial, infrastructural and industrial establishment. The study focused on examining the existing situation at Bwaise wetland, looking into the major land use changes associated with population growth that pose adverse effects on Bwaise wetland and the solutions that could be adopted to ensure sustainable use, protection and preservation of Bwaise wetland. The research employed a methodology capable of successfully and adequately gathering the required information for the research and it involved participant observation in the research area of study, interviewing of the relevant stakeholders such as the community nearest to the swamp and those who derive a livelihood from it, the Local Council I Chairpersons of Bwaise. Sampling was also employed to get information from the community members who are in direct interaction with the wetland, questionnaires distributed with specific objective answering questions, photography of peculiar and important phenomena and review of valuable literature related to the research. The research had a number of findings in relation to the objectives of the study and these were; the existing situation at Bwaise wetland evidenced by a major decrease in the area coverage of the wetland, building and construction activities on the wetland, highly polluted wetland waters with plastics, polythene, sewage and industrial wastes, the concrete barriers and larger drainage channels established to control flooding and very poor solid waste management. The research found out the major land uses associated with population growth that pose adverse impacts on the wetland and these are; the residential land use, commercial, infrastructural, industrial land use and poor solid waste management.