Assessing the impact of wetland policy in Ntungamo district :

Abstract

The study was conducted in Itojo sub county in Ntungamo district with the objectives of finding out the key impacts of existing wetland policies in Uganda and the associated impacts of these policies towards wetland conservation. Using purposive sampling respondents were chosen from different categories that is business persons, professionals and peasants 80 questionnaires containing closed and open ended questions were used to obtain data information concerning the impacts on these natural resources, benefits derived from these wetlands by the community, how to manage them and what the ten year strategic plan has done towards achieving sustainable use of these wetlands, whether the community can participate in policy formulation and implementation process and the efforts of the district authority towards conservation and policy implementation, Face to face interviews especially for the illiterate respondents were conducted using the questionnaire. The findings indicated that most of the wetlands are degraded and therefore the policy has no positive impact towards wetland conservation and management. The findings further indicate that community participation in policy formulation and implementation programs is very low, wetlands being biological supermarkets for the extensive food chains and rich biodiversity they support and conserve other natural resources for tourism. In addition, collaboration management, education and sensitization are the best practices to reduce and maintain the existing wetlands. There is still need for community involvement in the wetland conservation through collaborative management, sensitization and education of the community the benefits of wetlands and their associated and natural resource conservation.