THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA NAKASONGOLA DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES STATE OF ENVIRONMENT IN NAKASONGOLA DISTRICT A PRESENTATION TO STAKEHOLDERS DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE PILOT PROJECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE DISTRICT ON MONDAY, 3 RD OCTOBER, 2011 BY KUNOBERE JIM JAMES BOND SENIOR ENVIRONMENT OFFICER
Environmental Opportunities and Problems A. Environmental Opportunities Introduction Environmental opportunities in the district are those productive resources which when harnessed and used judiciously, could greatly contribute towards sustainable development and poverty alleviation. However, the existence of these opportunities alone is not enough for communities in Nakasongola district to make the stride in the absence of effective resource management strategies, institutional structures, enabling policies and legal framework. 1. Land use and Soils The total land area in the district is about 3424 km sq. 913 km sq is arable land. However, only 235 km sq is under cultivation. Soils are important natural resources for the district mainly because they support agriculture, which is the major economic activity, and from which over 85% of the total population derive their livelihood. In recent years the district agricultural output has gone down due to low rainfall and frequent drought. Soils also provide other essential products and services such as construction materials (sand, clay, stones) and they are invariably the ultimate disposal (sink) for a wide range of waste materials. Furthermore, soils are part of the media through which hydrological and geological cycles occur. They also host a diverse range of organisms. The soils of Nakasongola also support pastures that maintain a wide range of livestock, which include among others cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, pigs and rabbits. Small holders and pastoralists raise 20% and over 70% of the livestock in mixed farming and range systems respectively. The livestock sector is a key contributor in ensuring district food security and nutritional balance. In the sub-counties of Nakitoma, Nabiswera, Lwanpanga, Kakooge and Kalungi large livestock are reared. Livestock rearing is the second largest economic activity in the district after crop husbandry. 2. Water Resources and Aquatic Ecosystems Nakasongola is well endowed with water resources in form of direct precipitation, ground and surface water. The district has a share of one of Uganda’s major lakes i.e. Kyoga, and also three rivers (Kafu, Victoria Nile and R. Sezibwa), which influence the drainage system of the lake. Other minor rivers are Rugogo. The water sources are unevenly distributed due to the area’s relief. Some parts of Wabinyonyi, Nabiswera and Nakitoma have very few natural sources of water. Most of the district’s water resources have rich biodiversity, ranging from fish to crocodile and hippopotamus, which are big income earners as food.
3. Wetlands The wetlands drainage system is characterised by over eighty wetlands systems of which 14 are primary systems, 42 secondary systems and 24 tertiary systems. Wetlands in Nakasongola District fall under two categories i.e.: 1. Fresh water emergent reed swamps typically dominated by a single reed species e.g. L. Kyoga, Victoria Nile and R. Sezibwa systems. 2. Seasonally flooded wooded grassland. These are mainly used for livestock grazing. They provide the communities with materials for making local crafts, medicinal plants, and water for both domestic and livestock use. In addition the communities utilize them as hunting grounds and fishing sites for mudfish. Wetlands improve the quality of water and in so doing reduce water-borne diseases. In addition they re-charge and discharge ground water and rivers respectively, consequently distributing water to wells and boreholes through the natural drainage system. 4. Fisheries Fishing is one of the major economic activities in the district particularly along the L.Kyoga belt. The sector contributes to the nutritional welfare of the people, provides employment, and generates substantial incomes virtually all year round for those who engage in fish harvesting, processing, transportation and marketing. The sector also makes a significant contribution to local government revenue and household incomes. The main fishing activities are on Lake Kyoga to the northern and northeastern of the district. There is also some fishing going on in the Victoria Nile, R. Lugogo and R. Sezibwe. However, this is basically for subsistence with little commercial significance. The Fisheries Department estimates that catches can earn as much as Ug.Shs 348m in a month, with 1 kg (as of January 2002) costing Ug Shs 700. This is a valuable contribution to the local population and a good input towards poverty eradication among the people. A few farmers are practicing fish farming especially in Kakooge and Nakitoma sub-counties, but only limited success has been registered. 5. Forest/Woodlands The forest/woodland community is one of the major types of vegetation cover in Nakasongola district. There are 4 central and 1local. There is also a number of woodland found on public land, which serve as important energy catchments areas for communities. Across the whole district is an abundance of woodlands with rich diversity of local/indigenous trees. Biomass Energy According to field visits in the sub-counties and villages, the people obtain 100% of their energy needs from trees in form of charcoal and firewood. Trees like Mukora (Combretum collinum) , Mukananga (Stereospermum kunthianum) , and Mukunyu (Ficus sycomorus) , are known to be good for fuel wood.
Timber The forests are a very important source of timber, with Katuugo producing the best soft wood in Uganda. A sizeable part of the Katuugo community depends on timber for their income, and this is explained by the number of furniture shops operating in town, and the mushrooming buildings, which require timber. Bush Meat Local people recognize the importance of the woodlands as a source of wild meat. In Nabiswera and Nakitoma sub-counties, bushbucks, antelopes and wild pigs are commonly hunted for this purpose. Building Materials Many people have mud and wattle houses which are constructed with poles and thatching materials from the forests (Imperata cylindrica, Murantochloa leucantha and Pennisetum purpureum) . Crafts and Household items The main household uses of woodland and forest products include cooking, hunting, agricultural tools, musical instruments, brooms, mats, baskets, furniture and pounding mortars. Some members of the community obtain products like honey and a wide range of medicines from the forests and woodlands. B. Environmental Problems The conditions of the environment bears directly and widely on human productivity, and the reverse is also true. In a bid to increase productivity, various socio-economic activities have greatly affected the state of natural resources and the environment as a whole. Specific pressures that have been manifested in various parts of the district include: 1 Soil Exhaustion (land degradation) The rural communities directly depend on land for cultivation and grazing. However, the current pattern of land management and utilization, as well as the increasing demand for land present numerous environmental challenges. The main causes of land degradation in the district were continuously cited to be soil erosion and lack of soil conservation practices by smallholder farmers, who are the majority. According to the 1991 Agriculture and Livestock census, the total arable land in Nakasongola was estimated to be about 913 km 2 but only 235km 2 was under cultivation. Currently, the situation is not much different. Although some parts of the district remain unutilised for various reasons (land tenure system, reserved areas) and not experiencing serious problems related to soil degradation, other parts are being subjected to extensive soil degradation processes leading to soil exhaustion. This has resulted in low agricultural yields with the district. However, local communities have identified the cause to be:
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