The Uganda Atlas

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.

Wetlands:

importance

and

uses

NEMA 2005

NEMA 2008