NEBBI DISTRICT STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2010/2011 June 2011 Nebbi District State of Environment Report for Financial Year 2010/11 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA NEBBI DISTRICT STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2010/2011 Department of Environment and Natural Resources Nebbi District Local Government P.O. Box 1 Nebbi, Uganda JUNE 2011 i Nebbi District State of Environment Report for Financial Year 2010/11 Editorial Team Chief Editor: Amule Julius Editor: Odiya Godfrey Author: Fualing Doreen Technical Team Data collection, analysis and compilation Fualing Doreen Senior Environment Officer/Nebbi District Local Gov‟t Ojuku O. Richard Wetlands Officer/Nebbi District Local Government Oloya Micheal Fisheries Officer/Nebbi District Local Government Ruvakuma Lawrence Ag. District Water Officer/Nebbi District Local Gov‟t Onwang Andrew Research Assistant Publication: The publication is available in both hard and soft copy. The hard copy is available in the following libraries: 1. Nebbi Town Council Library at Nebbi Community and Social Centre (NECOSOC) in Nebbi Town Council. 2. Nebbi District Environment Office and Offices of all Head of Sectors. 3. Offices of the Town Clerks and Sub-county Chiefs. 4. Uganda College of Commerce, Pakwach Town Council. 5. Government Aided Secondary Schools in Nebbi District (Pakwach, Nebbi Town, Uringi, Parombo, Angal, Erussi, Panyango and Paroketo). Copy right@ 2010/2011 Nebbi District Local Government All rights reserved. ii Nebbi District State of Environment Report for Financial Year 2010/11 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .............................................................................. iv LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................. v FOREWORD ........................................................................................................ ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................... x EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................... 1 GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON NEBBI DISTRICT .................................... 1 1.0. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Location and Area ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Political and Administrative Structure ...................................................................................... 1 1.3. Economic status of the district ....................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Topography and soils ................................................................................................................ 3 1.5 Climate and vegetation .............................................................................................................. 3 1.6 Drainage ...................................................................................................................................... 4 1.7 Demography ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.7.1. History, Culture and Population ............................................................................................ 5 1.7.2. Cultural Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 5 1.7.3. Population Size, Growth and Distribution ............................................................................ 6 1.8 Analysis of Crosscutting Issues................................................................................................ 7 1.8.1 Poverty and livelihoods of the people ............................................................................. 7 1.8.2. HIV/AIDS Analysis ............................................................................................................13 1.8.3 Gender Analysis and Social Welfare .............................................................................17 1.8.4 Food and Nutrition ............................................................................................................21 1.9. Organization of the report .............................................................................................................24 CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................. 25 THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................... 25 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................25 2.2. The Environmental/Natural Resources ..................................................................................25 2.2.1 Fresh Water Resources and Fisheries ..........................................................................26 2.2.2. Safe Water Coverage ............................................................................................................30 2.2.3. Agricultural Resources handled under livelihoods and economic .................................32 2.2.4. Mineral Resources and Energy ............................................................................................33 2.2.5. Forest Resources /Tree Species Diversity .........................................................................35 2.2.6. Wetlands Resources ..............................................................................................................36 2.2.7. Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................40 2.2.8. Eco-Tourism ......................................................................................................................41 2.3. Investment opportunities in Nebbi District .............................................................................41 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................... 44 ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, MANAGEMENT/INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS ................................................................................................. 44 3.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................44 3.2. The Key Environmental Problems ......................................................................................44 3.2.1. Soil Degradation .....................................................................................................................44 3.2.2. Uncontrolled Tree Cutting/Deforestation ............................................................................46 3.2.3. Wetlands/River Bank Encroachment and Degradation ....................................................46 3.2.4. Uncontrolled Bush Burning ...................................................................................................46 3.2.5. Poor Solid Waste Management ...........................................................................................47 3.2.6. Over Fishing and Depletion of Fisheries Resources .........................................................47 3.3. The Management/Institutional Challenges ........................................................................48 3.4. Strategies and Achievements ..................................................................................................48 CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................. 51 iii Nebbi District State of Environment Report for Financial Year 2010/11 THE FUTURE, POLICY RESPONSES AND ACTION PLANS .......................................... 51 4.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................51 4.2. The Purpose of the District............................................................................................................51 4.3. The Purpose of the Natural Resources and Environment Sector ...........................................52 4.4. Key Environmental issues/problems ...........................................................................................53 4.5. Future Scenarios in Five Years ...........................................................................................60 4.5.1 Five Years Development Priorities and Plan of Natural Resources Sector for Financial Years 2011/12-2015/16 ...................................................................................................60 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................... 67 RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................. 68 5.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................68 5.2. Recommendations .........................................................................................................................68