Uganda Atlas of Our Changing Environment - GRID-Arendal

Wetlands: importance and uses
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Uganda’s wetlands can be categorized as papyrus
swamp, swamp forests, lacustrine (lake edge),
riverine, flood plains and damboos. These can
be further categorized into permanent and
seasonal wetlands. The most common type of
wetland is papyrus swamp dominated by Cyperus
papyrus. A bout 69% of the total area under
wetlands is impeded drainage while seasonal
swamps and swamp forests constitute 30% and 1 %
respectively.
Wetlands in Uganda perform important chemical,
hydrological, ecological and socio-economic
functions. The major functions and values include;
source of products such as water, fish, forage and
grazing resources, wood fuel, building and craft
materials, sand, clay and medicines; provision
of services such as purification of water through
filtering of both silt, and industrial and domestic
effluent; regulate water flow and enhance ground
water recharge; moderation of climate; retention
of carbon; and provide landscape aesthetic
resources for recreation and eco- tourism.
Further more, wetlands have important attributes
including habitat for aquatic life, biodiversity
and genetic resources conservation. Therefore, a
large proportion of Uganda’s population directly
or indirectly depends on wetlands for their
livelihoods.
Uganda’s wetlands are faced with a number of
threats of degradation especially resulting from
population pressure and economic development.
Wetlands throughout the country are increasingly
being encroached upon and reclaimed mainly
for agriculture and settlements. Specifically,
the main human activities that are leading to
degradation of wetlands include drainage for
agricultural purposes, sand and clay mining,
over-harvesting of biomass, dumping of solid
waste and pollution through release of industrial
effluent and domestic waste. The impact of all
these is far reaching, and is already threatening
the integrity and sustainability of these vital
resources. The current and potential impacts
include increased floods, shortage of building and
crafts materials, reduction in fish productivity
(for example, disappearance of mud fish) decline
in water quantity and quality, reduced ground
water recharge and decline in the water table as
exemplified by the disappearance of water springs.
Baskets made out of papyrus reeds
Kyojja Wetland
Managmenet Association
offices in Masaka District.
The building is made of
wetland products (2005).
The Association manages
Kyojja wetland to ensure
its sustainability and
improved livelihoods.
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NEMA 2005
NEMA 2008