The impact of urban growth and expansion on wetland ecosystems: a case study of Bujjagali Wetland, Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District

Abstract

Urbanization in Nansana is one of the most critical environmental constraints and has become so rapid especially in the last 10 to 20 years. Urban growth refers to the increase in the population and physical size of a city or town over time. It involves more people moving into urban areas and the expansion of urban infrastructure, buildings, and services to accommodate this population increase. The study focuses on the impact of urban growth and expansion on Bujjagali wetland in Nansana East II, Nansana municipality through identifying the impacts of the urban expansion on the wetland in Nansana municipality, examining the activities that are carried out on ecosystem and the challenges faced in management and conservation strategies of Bujjagali wetland. The methods used for the data collection were, the use of questionnaires, interview guides, observation. The findings revealed that urban expansion had a detrimental impact to the wetland as it caused the wetland vegetation loss, extraction of the resources from the wetland water for domestic use and irrigation, clay for brick making that resulted into the degradation of the ecosystem, disposal of wastes in the ecosystem resulting into water and land pollution. The activities that were carried out on the wetland are brick making, agriculture, construction of houses. The study revealed the challenges faced in the proper management and conservation of wetland in the Nansana municipality which include, corruption, poverty levels, Inadequate Monitoring and Surveillance and Weak Public Participation. The researcher conclude by appealing to all Nansana municipal officials, stakeholders and urban developers to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) while conducting their human-made activities adjacent to the wetland ecosystem so that it can be saved from being degraded and continue to perform its natural functions.