environment policy for wetlands conservation

1. NDEJJE UNIVERSITY
KAMPALA CAMPUS
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
NAME : CHAGAWO DERMALIE
REG NO. : 14/2/360/W/289
COURSE UNIT : ENVIROMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
COUSRE : BPAM
FACILITATOR : MR. BYARUHANGA ELIGIO
YEAR : THREE
SIGNATURE : ………………………………………
Question;
Design a suitable environmental policy for an area of your choice

2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY FOR THE WETLANDS CONSERVATION IN
KAMPALA DISTRICT
1.0 Executive summary
The rise in human numbers, and the subsequent demand for more resources to sustain their
livelihood, wetlands and their benefits are now under pressure both in rural and urban areas.
In the urban areas, notably Kampala, the wetlands were the last ‗free‘ or cheap areas for
infrastructure development, despite their designation as green corridors‘. In the rural areas,
small but continuous nibbling‘ at wetland edges has reduced the wetland area somewhat, but
this is mainly restricted to the seasonal wetlands. The damage to permanent wetlands in the
rural areas is probably still limited. Here the inaccessibility and the lack of drainage
technology have protected these systems from encroachment and or wholesale drainage. The
main issue here is that all these developments have taken place without a well-developed
legal framework that regulates wetland use. The lack of legal framework is compounded by
the limited understanding of how wetlands work, what the immediate and long term impacts
of modifications may be, and the economic value of wetlands as compared to the economic
benefits of major developments.
2.0 Introduction
Wetlands should be conserved that they may provide for our different needs. Conservation of
wetlands is any assurance of income, health and safety of the people who live near them.
Wetlands clean, purify and store water. Most of the wetlands especially the papyrus swamps
retain sediments and absorb harmful substances in water. Therefore the wetlands ensure that
the water leaving it is free from pollutants and is clean enough for human consumption.
The wetlands in Kampala are continuously being depleted in-spite of the numerous calls by
the different environmental bodies such as National Environmental Management Authority
(NEMA), Ministry of Natural Resources and different wildlife clubs. Initially the areas of
Wakaliga (between Rubaga and Natete), the dumping grounds of Kololo were viable
wetlands for different purposes. However, the Kampala City Council, licenced by
Government, used these areas as dumping grounds for waste. This situation was worsened by
the licencing of private firms into rubbish disposal industry which used the same grounds for
disposal of waste. Not only has this polluted the wetlands but it has rendered these areas
unsuitable for human settlement. Wetland depletion has also been associated with floods.
Wetlands are known to have been able to store water but since they have all been destroyed,

3. there is no way water run-offs can be controlled. This has resulted into increased floods
around the clock-tower area, Nsambya, Bugolobi, Jinja-road and Nakawa. These floods have
greatly hindered movement within the city and around the affected areas.
3.0 Situation analysis
Wetlands have been reclaimed so as to provide land on which industries are being built every
other day. Government has entirely ignored the importance of wetlands at the cost of earning
extra revenue. This has already or is in the process of creating severe changes in climatic
conditions now and in the near future. The growth of industries has resulted into increased
amounts of waste being given off by industries. These wastes are being deposited into former
wetlands as the garbage dumping areas in Kololo and Wakaliga near Natete. This has
definitely polluted these areas not forgetting the foul odor accruing from the waste.
Urbanisation has greatly been responsible for wetland depletion since the wetlands have been
turned into economically viable areas. All wetlands are important- they all play significant
roles in water resources, supply of goods, climatic moderation and other benefits. Now that
wetlands are perceived as wealthlands not waste lands’, there is need of sustainable
management through wise-use to ensure long-term provision of wetland benefits. Some
wetlands have unique ecological features that warrant total protection; many currently
provide a wide range of products to local users; and some may become more efficient
production areas for a wide range of food, and other products when appropriately modified.
4.0 Purpose of the policy
To integrate the consideration of environmental concerns and impacts of wetlands
degradation on urban development.
5.0 Policy objectives
To sustain the biological and socio-economic values of wetlands for present and future
generations
To control wetlands depletion and environmental degradation in Kampala
6.0 Rationale
In Kampala, the city and its immediate environment is managed and administered by the City
Council of Kampala. This government body has greatly fostered destruction of these
treasured areas. The city council has neglected the laws set up to protect the wetlands. The
Government of Uganda has conflicting ideologies over environmental protection with respect

4. to economic growth and so, no real supervision is done over the authorities in charge of
wetland conservation. The call for modernisation of Kampala's areas and industrialization by
politicians and other leaders today, we fear that Kampala's wetlands will not survive.
7.0 Stake holders
The policy considers the following stakeholders for its successful implementation
 Government of Uganda
 National Environmental Management authority
 Kampala capital city authority-directorate of the environment
 Environmental protection civil society organisations
 Local environment committees
8.0 Implementation of the policy
The best solution to wetland depletion is massive education and local campaigning to the
people. No wonder that today most of these areas are affected by frequent flooding,
especially when it rains heavily. This education and campaign will be done through meetings
with their local councils and through publication of different environmental sectors.
People will be encouraged to take strong measures in their activities in order to avoid the
natural casualties. Instead of displacing some of these animals, one can instead preserve and
protect them thereby earning income through the tourist industry.
Working with environmental bodies like the National Environmental Management Authority
so that these bodies aid in wetland conservation. Clubs like the Uganda Wildlife which assist
in the sensitization of the masses about conservation of both the flora and the fauna.
Implementation of government laws against swamps and wetland reclamation. The
government in this case should put rules that people must follow in that before one goes on
with the reclamation of wetlands, one must get proper documentation from the government.
Government should be prepared to act when confronted with cases of unnecessary wetland
and swamp reclamation.
Controlling population growth rate through adopting better family planning programs. This
aims at minimizing excess demand for land which tends to force people to encroach on these
wetlands.

5. Advocating for encouragement of excess population by the government to migrate to areas of
sparse population outside their home areas. There has been destruction of marine animals in
form of pollution of their natural habitats.
Monitoring and evaluation
Promote institutional capacity development in monitoring and follow-up, including the use of
qualified consultants.
Improve the consultation and outreach process to build trust among industry, governments,
and local communities through the creation/ implementation of regional livelihood
development programs.
Support the development of regional communication systems for disseminating
environmental and social information relating to proposed oil and gas projects.
Support an approach for managing environmental liabilities arising from oil and gas
development, such as an overarching regulatory and accounting framework; determination of
liability costs and their assignment; and an understanding of decommissioning, closure, and
abandonment procedures.
Deliver training programs on key topics identified in the survey. The education of urban
dwellers and developers on the disadvantages of encroaching on the existing wetlands can
also help minimize on the land problem.
Relationship with other policies
The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995)
The National Environment Statute (1995)
The National Policy for the Conservation and Management of Wetland Resources (1995)
The Land Act (1998)
National Environment Wetlands, River Banks and Lakeshores Management Regulations
(2000)
This policy, including the wetlands management policy shall be reviewed annually upon its
adoption by the board.

6. References
NEMA and Ministry of Water and Environment (2009). Fourth National Report to the
Convention on Biological Diversity. National Environment Management Authority and
Ministry of Water and Environment.
UNEP (n.d.) Lake Victoria. Environmental Change Hotspots. Division of Early Warning and
Assessment (DEWA). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Available from:
http://na.unep.net/atlas/webatlas.php?id=2196