EFFECTS OF POPULATION GROWTH AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON WETLANDS IN KAMPALA CITY: A CASE OF KANSANGA WETLAND BY KWESIGA MAXIMUS BSc. Env't. Mgt Hons (KIU) A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL 1-'ULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OCTOBER, 2008 DECLARATION I, Kwesiga Maximus, declare that the work compiled and presented in this dissertation is original and entirely out of my own research and has never been submitted to any other university or institution of higher learning before for any award. Sign: ............ ~ ......................... KWESIGA MAXIMUS BSc. Env't. Mgt Hons (KIU) Researcher t(J - 2.,e,n . Date: ......~ttv :T ........................- .. ..~....... ... ....... ... ...... APPROVAL This is to certify that this dissertation has been submitted for examination with my approval as the supervisor: Si PROF. EDROMA. L., ERIC BSc., MSc., PhD., FLS. Supervisor 0 11 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my parents Mr. Africano Behangana (LT} and Mrs Africano.T.Gaudansia for the support, care and faith in me, and for the guidance and encouragement throughout my studies. I also dedicate this work to my brothers Tukesiga Mathias and Mwesigwa Deogratius, sisters Katushabe Fionah, Natukunda Immaculate and Kobusingye Lindah, and to my cousin Tumuhimbise Deus, for their time and assistance given to me. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to thank God for the gift and protection of my life and enabling me succeed in different stages of education. Secondaly, I extend my sincere thanks to my supervisor Prof. Edroma L. Eric for the assistance and guidance given to me from the start of writing this dissertation to the end. Special thanks go to my parents and brothers and sisters for the financial support rendered to me through the hard fought effort to see that I finish masters' programme with this research. Thirdly, I would like to extend my thanks to my lecturers Prof. Edroma L. Eric, Mr.Sekabira Kassim, Mr.Banaga Bingi Gerald, Dr.ljjo Alex, Dr. Olwuor Sunday, Mr.Mbazira Alex, Mr.Edaku Charles, Mr. Batesibwa Wilber and Mr. Wekoye Stephen for giving me all the knowledge and skills that without them would be hard to attain. Lastly, I thank all my friends and most of all my course mates of Master of Science in Environmental Management and Development at Kampala International University and all others for supporting me and giving me words of encouragement during my education course. iv ABSTRACT This study on the "Effects of population growth and urban development on the Kansanga wetland" aimed to determine the historical trends of population growth rate and urban development of Kampala, determine the integrity of Kansanga wetland for the past 10 to 15 years, establish the activities of the population and how they affect the wetland, and analysed the effects of population growth and urban development on the wetland. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used where 84 respondents were sampled in the study which included KCC officials, the wetland occupants, NEMA officials and the area district environmental officer. Out of the 84 only 46 respondents returned filled questionnaires and 20 were interviewed making a total of 66 respondents. The findings indicate that Kansanga wetland is highly encroached by the increasing population of Kampala City, urban development and urban human activities as the major threats to Kansanga wetland, greatly affecting the wetland's size, biodiversity, integrity and productivity. The study findings confirmed the disappearance of some of the species that formally existed in this wetland which included the sitatunga and the Typha sp (cat tails).The size of the wetland was also found to have been modified by 88% compared to 58% by NBS (2000) and the estimated current size under intact wetland vegetation is only 0.54 km 2 out of 4.54 km 2 of the original size. Among the major recommendations were that the government, NEMA, the lead or responsible ministry and other private conservation organisations should purchase plots from the wetland from the landlords who got leases before the Constitution (1995) and establish the entire wetland as wildlife refuge, sanctuary, or special conservation area. This will preserve the wetland in its natural state and protect it from destructive human development activities. Decentralisation of services to overcome the rural urban migration and promotion of contraceptive use to check the population growth among others. This can be done through the enactment and implementation of policies and laws, which address lfiP. issues revealed through this study. V TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration ........................................................................................................I Approval ............................................................................................................................. 11 Dedication ......................................................................................................................... 111 Acknowledgement. ............................................................................................................ IV Abstract ..............................................................................................................................V Table of contents .............................................................................................................. VI List of tables ...................................................................................................................... IX List of figures .................................................................................................... X List of plates ....................................................................................................XI List of acronyms ............................................................................................................... XI I CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1 1.1 Background to the study .................................................................................1 1.2 Statement of the problem ...............................................................................3 1.3 Objectives of the study ..................................................................................4 1 .4 Research questions ......................................................................................4 1.5 Significance of the study ................................................................................4 1.6 Scope of the study ........................................................................................5 1.7 Conceptual framework ...................................................................................6 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ 8 LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................8 2.2 Population Growth and Urban Development. .................................................. 8 2.2.1 Population Growth ....................................................................................8 2.2.2 Urban Development. ................................................................................ 12 2.3: Wetlands integrity .................................................................................... 14 2.4 Activities of the population that affect the wetlands .......................................... 16 2.5 Effects of population growth and urban development on Wetlands ..................... 19 VI CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 21 METHODS ....................................................................................................................... 21 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................21 3.2 Research Design .....................................................................................21 3.3 Study area ..............................................................................................21 3.4 Population ..............................................................................................24 3.5 Sampling Techniques and sample size .........................................................24 3.6 Research instruments ...............................................................................25 3.6.1 Questionnaires ........................................................................................25 3.6.2 Interviews ...............................................................................................25 3.6.3 Focus Group Discussions .........................................................................26 3.6.4 Observation ............................................................................................26 3.6.5 Reviewed literature ...................................................................................26 3.6:6 Photography ............................................................................................26