Assessment of the environmental and social economic (impacts) of the restoration of Nabajjuzi wetland by Lake Victoria environment management project (LVEMP II) to the community :

Abstract

The research study was carried out on Nabajjuzi wetland Masaka town Masaka district. The wetland faced traces of degradation by human activities. This called for restoration from the LVBMP II through compensation activities. However, the restoration of the project has resulted to environmental and social economic impacts. The general objective of study was to assess the environmental and social economic (impacts) of the restoration of Nabajjuzi wetland by Lake Victoria environment management project (LVEMP II) to the community. The study was both qualitative and quantitative. The researcher used the questionnaires, observations, interviews and secondary data obtained from the university library, internet, journals, reports and newspapers. 60 questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Data was summarized and analysed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS and STATA where inferential and descriptive statistics was employed. The results indicate that the compensation activities used by LVEMP II include modern bee hive, mango seedlings, orange seedlings, piggery, biogas plants and others like money in cash. The community has benefited from the activities of LVEMP II in restoration of the wetland and the benefits include the following increase in income levels, decrease in diseases, energy supply, improved standards of living and others A great change in the state of the wetland due the project activities was also identified by the community members and the change is positive and observable which are change in vegetation colour, increase in water table, increase in papyrus, and many others. Challenges were faced by the project leaders and even the community which include lack of enough sensitization to: the group, limited training, late funding, and lack of cooperation, un trust leaders, and corruption among others. Therefore, there is need to put in place the ways to reduce on the challenges and increase on the benefits to the stake holders.