http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/350 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:23:30 GMT 2026-04-03T23:23:30Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4659 Performance evaluation of solid waste management. Obua, Benjamin Rapid urbanization and population growth in Mbale City have exacerbated solid waste management (SWM) challenges, resulting in environmental pollution, public health risks, and inefficiencies in waste collection and disposal. This study evaluates the current state of SWM in Mbale City, identifies existing gaps, and proposes a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based framework to optimize waste collection and disposal. The study analysed waste generation patterns across residential, commercial, and industrial areas using field surveys, interviews, GIS mapping, and remote sensing. Results indicate that over 75% of the total waste generated is organic, followed by plastics (12%), paper (5%), and other materials (8%). Despite a daily waste generation of approximately 250 tons, only 55% is collected, leaving 45% uncollected, which contributes to illegal dumping and environmental hazards. Furthermore, only 20% of the collected waste is properly disposed of in designated landfills, while 80% is mismanaged due to inadequate infrastructure and collection inefficiencies. A GIS-based framework was developed to enhance waste management efficiency by identifying waste generation hotspots, optimizing collection routes, and improving resource allocation. Route optimization analysis demonstrated that implementing GIS-based collection strategies reduced travel distances by 15%, leading to lower operational costs and a 30% improvement in waste collection efficiency. The study also found that waste collection frequency varies significantly, with high-density areas experiencing delays of up to 7 days, worsening sanitation conditions. The findings emphasize the urgent need for improved waste management strategies, including increased waste collection coverage, expansion of recycling initiatives, and stricter enforcement of waste disposal regulations. By integrating GIS technology, this study provides a data-driven approach to enhancing waste collection efficiency and promoting sustainable urban waste management in Mbale City. Dissertation Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4659 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4650 Designing a rain water filtration system using activated carbon and sand Owiny, Emmanuel Rainwater harvesting technology is increasingly being practiced in Uganda as a means of curbing the water scarcity challenge in the country. Busitema university-faculty of engineering and technology found in eastern Uganda provides accommodation to students inside the campus but biggest fraction of students resides in privately owned hostels outside the campus. One of home state named Mr. Okello Kennedy installed a rainwater harvesting system for her household members but the challenge discovered is that the system lacks a filtration unit yet members would wish to use this water for potable purposes. This project therefore was focused on designing a rainwater filter using local materials like sand, gravel, and activated carbon. This report is divided into five chapters. Chapter One: This chapter contains the project background of the study, the problem statement, the purpose of the study, justification of the study, the objectives of the project and finally the scope and the limitations of the project Chapter Two: This chapter reviews all the necessary literature relevant to Rooftop RWH system, it gives the different contaminants found in rainwater, the major materials used in rainwater filter designing, different rainwater treatment technologies available and water quality assessment. Chapter Three: This chapter describes all the methodologies which were followed during the designing of the filter system following the objectives including; raw water quality assessment, designing the system components, constructing the different components and assembling them, evaluating the performance of the system prototype. Chapter Four: This chapter gives the analysis and discussion of the results from chapter three as per the objectives. Chapter Five: This chapter entails the conclusion on the results from Chapter Four and the recommendations from the results. Dissertation Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4650 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4647 Design and implementation of a real-time notification system for water networks Modi, Bosco Wilson Design and implementation of a real-time notification system for water networks Dissertation Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4647 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4637 Development of a hybrid flood forecasting model to inform intervention Muwanguzi, Elija The Mpanga Catchment in Western Uganda is increasingly prone to flooding, driven by rapid land use/land cover (LULC) changes and the growing impacts of climate variability. This study assessed historical and projected flood risks by evaluating how LULC dynamics and climate change scenarios influence stream flow, flood hazard, vulnerability, and overall risk. Historical LULC data (1990–2020) were analyzed and projected to 2090 using QGIS-MOLUSCE with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Climate projections under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 were generated using the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM), with precipitation and temperature projections serving as key inputs for hydrologic simulations in HEC-HMS. The model was calibrated and validated using observed data (1990–2020), producing strong performance metrics (NSE = 0.699 for calibration, NSE = 0.658 for validation). Rainfall-runoff modeling with the SCS-CN method revealed significant changes in discharge across return periods. The 50-year return period discharge increased from 538 m³/s (historical) to 41,292 m³/s (projected in 2090 under RCP4.5), while the 10,000-year discharge surged from 1,997 m³/s to over 1,090,801 m³/s under RCP8.5. These increases were strongly correlated with projected rises in rainfall intensity and temperature fluctuations. LULC transitions, particularly deforestation and urban expansion, were shown to amplify surface runoff and reduce infiltration, with cropland increasing by over 10% and forest cover declining by 7% between 1990 and 2020. Flood hazard maps created using HEC-RAS 6.4.1 showed flood depths increasing by up to 0.9 meters for the 50-year return period, and projected inundation areas for the 10,000-year return period reaching over 210 million ft² more than five times the historical extent. Vulnerability mapping through Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) revealed that proximity to rivers (weight = 0.40), LULC (0.23), and elevation (0.15) were the most critical factors contributing to flood susceptibility. Risk mapping demonstrated that the highest flood risk is projected for the year 2070, especially under the combined influence of LULC changes and high-emission climate scenarios (RCP8.5). This study provides robust, data-driven evidence that future flood risk in the Mpanga Catchment will intensify significantly under current land use and emission trajectories. The combined effects of deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate change will not only elevate flood magnitudes but also expand hazard zones and deepen community vulnerability. Immediate action is needed to implement integrated flood risk management strategies that incorporate sustainable land use planning, ecosystem conservation, and climate adaptation to mitigate these looming threats. Dissertation Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12283/4637 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z