Abstract:
This study was conducted on the communities surrounding River Mpanga in Fort Portal Municipality, Kabarole district. The purpose of the study was to assess the economic value of River Mpanga as a surface water resource in Kabarole district. The specific objectives were to: find out the human activities conducted around river Mpanga; examine the impacts of various human activities on the River Mpanga ecosystem arid attach monetary value to the benefits. obtained from River Mpanga.
The study employed a descriptive research design and used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Primary data was collected using questionnaires, interviews of key resource persons and observations. Secondary data was collected by reviewing district environmental reports, district statistical abstracts, district action plans, journals, and other sources of literature. Data was coded, entered and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 to give descriptive and inferential statistics. Inferential statistics include chi-square tests. A total sample of 90 respondents was considered of which 41 were females and 49 were males.
Findings showed the local communities surrounding River Mpanga tarried out farming, nursery bed operations, brick making, and sand mining as livelihood activities. Also River Mpanga was the main source of water for domestics commercial and industrial use in Fort Portal municipality. Over 82 percent of the respondents in the study area were willing to pay for the recovery and conservation of River Mpanga. However, low monetary value was attached to the benefits from River Mpanga.
It is concluded that although River Mpanga is essential for the well-being of local communities, it has generally reduced in size and water quality due to increased encroachment on river banks, dumping of wastes and farming. It is therefore recommended that the local communities be sensitized on policies and legislation for the conservation of River Mpanga, on the value attached to the benefits from River Mpanga, gazetting and demarcation of the river boundaries, enforcement of the 100m buffer from the rivet and sensitized on the river use rights.
