Impacts of sand mining on Komuchwezi wetland: a case study of Katente parish, Kyegegwa district

Abstract

The study assessed the impacts of sand mining on Komuchwezi wetland located in Katente parish of Kyegegwa sub county in Kyegegwa district. A quantitative approach was taken to collect data. Specifically,semi-structured interviews were conducted among 80 respondents randomly selected from four purposively selected villages (Butooke, Kyakakwanzi, Galijula and Bufunjo) of Katente parish. I used different methods of obtaining information about the sand mining like interviewing method using a questionnaire guide. The reseach study adopted descriptive research desigh and a sample of 80 respondents was used in the study. Secondary data source were basically through desk reviews of existing literature on sand harvesting and scholarly internet sources while primary data was gathered directly from respondents using structured open ended questionnaire and observation.Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution and percentage were used to describe data. The Statistical package for Social Sciecnces (SPSS) aided the analysis of the data collected. Findings indicate that sand mining has highly led to school dropouts at primary and secondary levels of education, unplaned population increase and high crime rates, declaine in agriculture and Komuchwezi wetland destruction.However employment opportunities, cheap sand and human labour and developmental services by miner’s group was a benefit to the people of Katente. The study concluded that sand mining in Katente is generally contributing negative effects on socio economic and environmental aspects of people since it not sustainably promoted.The study recommended numerous actions that should be taken to sustainably promote sand mining and reduce its negative impacts like the need for routine inspection by district environmental team and ministry to ensure compliance to the agreed up standards of mining prior issuing of operational license