The effects of wetland degradation on community livelihoods in Uganda :

Abstract

The topic of study was the effects of wetland degradation on the community livelihoods to the people of Uganda using Buseta Sub County as its case study. The major objective of the study was to find, out the effects of wetland degradation on the livelihoods of communities using Limoto wetland in Buseta. The study was cross sectional where by both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to collect data. To efficiently conduct the study, the data was collected from a sample of 60 respondents in Buseta Sub County. A stratified random sampling method was used. The data collected was both primary and secondary data that was collected through conducting interviews and using self-administered questionnaires by respondents. The data was analyzed using Excel and SPSS (version 20) which facilitated the formation of frequency tables. The research findings also show that 60% of the community’s livelihoods are reduced through reduced agricultural output due to flooding. The findings show that 53.3% of the respondents agreed that decline in crop output has been due to wetland degradation in the area hence affecting negatively the community's livelihood. The findings also show that due to water pollution most fish species no longer exist in the in the wetland shown by 52% of the respondents. The findings show there is increased flooding in the area are due to loss of wetland vegetation shown by 670/o of the respondents who agreed with the statement. Majority of the people have been affected by the flooding, change in the farming production pattern; water pollutions and loss in the wetland vegetation all these have affected the communities' livelihoods which are all as a result of wetland degradation in Limoto wetland in Buseta Sub County. The government should establish policies on the wetland governing the wetland in order to reduce on the human encroachment on the wetland this will help to reduce on the effects flooding so as to protect communities against the flood effects. They Should sensitize the local communities about importance of wetland so as to, reduce on encroachment on the wetlands hence protecting wetland vegetation there by reducing the effects resulting from loss of wetland vegetation.