MAKERERE UNIVERSITY URBAN RIVER POLLUTION: A CASE STUDY OF RIVER MPANGA IN FORTPORTAL CITY, KABAROLE DISTRICT BY AMANYIRE STELLA 14/U/4959/PS 214018850 SUPERVISOR: PROF. TWAHA ALI BASAMBA ATEENYI A SPECIAL PROJECT RESEARCH REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE OF AGRICULTURAL LANDUSE AND MANAGEMENT OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY. AUGUST, 2018 i DECLARATION i DEDICATION I dedicate this research to the family of Mr. and Mrs.Rusoke George William who have supported me throughout my education career. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First of all I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my Sponsors (my parents and siblings) who provided me with financial support that made it possible to complete this report. In the same way, I would like to thank my supervisor Prof. Twaha Ali Basamba Ateenyi for his academic support and encouragement from the initial stages up to the completion of this report. I appreciate all the laboratory technicians for their guidance and support. Lastly a hand of applause to my friends and relatives whose contributions were paramount towards completion of this report. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................ i DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................ iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ viii LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................ ix ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the study ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem Statement ............................................................................................................... 2 1.3 OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 General objective .............................................................................................................. 2 1.3.2 Specific objectives ............................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Hypothesis............................................................................................................................ 3 1.5 Scope of the study ................................................................................................................ 3 CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................................... 4 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Human activities carried out along rivers and their effects on the ecological characteristics of the rivers. ............................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Laws and acts attached to river catchments ......................................................................... 5 2.3 A river as a resource ............................................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 7 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ......................................................................................... 7 3.1 Description of the study area ............................................................................................... 7 iv 3.1.1 Location of the area of Study ............................................................................................ 7 3.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 8 3.1.3 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 8 3.1.4 Soils................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1.5 Study Population ............................................................................................................... 8 3.2 Ethical Consideration ........................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Research Design................................................................................................................... 9 3.4 Research Approach .............................................................................................................. 9 3.4.1 Site Description ................................................................................................................. 9 3.4.2 Sampling ........................................................................................................................... 9 3.4.3 Sample Preparation ........................................................................................................... 9 3.4.4 Laboratory Analyses ......................................................................................................... 9 3.5 Sampling Technique and procedure ................................................................................... 10 3.6 Data collection methods ..................................................................................................... 10 3.7 Sample size and sampling procedure: ................................................................................ 11 3.8 Data Processing and Analyses ........................................................................................... 11 3.9 Statistical Analyses ............................................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 13 4.0 Results and Discussion ...................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Results ................................................................................................................................ 13 4.1.1 Major Human activities carried out within River Mpanga catchment. ........................... 13 4.1.2 How the human activities affect the water quality of river Mpanga. .............................. 15 4.1.3 The level of awareness on policies and legislations on the river ecosystem conservation among the communities within River Mpanga catchment. ..................................................... 18 4.2 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 20 4.2.1 Human activities and their effects on the water quality .................................................. 20 4.2.1.1 Crop growing ............................................................................................................... 20 v 4.2.1.2 Animal grazing and disposal of wastes. ....................................................................... 21 4.2.1.3 Human Settlements ...................................................................................................... 21 4.2.2 Effect of the activities on nutrient composition and water quality of the river .............. 22 4.2.2.1 Nitrogen ....................................................................................................................... 22 4.2.2.2 Phosphates, Potassium, Calcium and Sodium ............................................................. 23 4.2.2.3 pH .................................................................................................................................. 24 4.2.2.4 Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)............................................................................. 24 4.2.2.5 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) .............................................................................. 25 4.2.3 Levels of awareness on policies and legislations ............................................................ 26 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................... 27 5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................. 27 5.1 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................