Influencence of human activities on wetlands and the physical environment in Buyanga Sub County, Iganga District.
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Date
2018-08
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KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY,SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Abstract
Water is becoming increasingly important within Iganga district and specifically in
Nawangisa sub county , which was my main area of research. This is mainly due to the
increasing population caused by urban influx, industrialization, expansion and even
agriculture and farming in the area. Nawangisa area is a well formed water catchment
zone. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of human activities on wetlands
on the physical environment: while also looking at ways in which wetland utilization can
be achieved sustainably. Environmental degradation has had devastating effects on natural
resources. One major effect is wetland loss and degradation. This sorry state has to a great
extent been attributed to human behaviour (Mawajj e. 2009). Such anthropogenic factors
include human activities on wetlands. Nawangisa sub-county in Iganga District has
experienced a fair share o C human encroachment on its wetland resources. The study
employed purposive sampling technique. The target population was 5 County government
official representatives, 3 Environmental Officers from NEMA and 2 physical planners
from Ministry of Devolution and Planning selected through purposive sampling. The
sample size was 160 based on Cochrane (2006), selected through the systematic random
sampling technique whereby each member of the subset had an equal probability of being
chosen. The sample to be used was therefore 28 residents from Nawangisa, 35 from
Nakalama, 24 from Nabiirye, 40 from Namundudi and 33 from Nawansega constituencies.
This formed the basis of this research study. The main instrument used in the study was
questionnaires. whose reliability testing was done using the split-half method. The method
of data collection was done throuch administerinc of ciuestionnaires to respondents, with
analysis. I he data analysis technique used in this study was descriptive statistics, wnere the
data was collated, coded and entered into SPSS system software. Quantitative data was
then presented using percentages and frequency distribution tables, while the qualitative
data was presented in verbatim statements. It was eminent from the study that human
activities on wetlands influence the physical envirodment; causing detrimental effects such
as soil erosion, loss of land cover, water pollution and air pollution; these activities being
agricultural activities, construction of public infrastructure and construction of residential
structure. Iganga district thus requires a method in which the problem of wetland
Description
A research projects report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for t5iie award of a bachelor degree of’ arts in education at Kampala International University