ABSTRACT In a bid to address the impact of slum development on the wetlands many organizations have developed mechanisms aimed at reducing on the rate of slum development but several measures still need to be put in place as well as elevate the lives of the people living in the slum areas for example the building of a better drainage system, provision of safe drinking water, sensitization on better sanitation practices thus creating a favorable living atmosphere. The main objective of this research was to assess the impact of slum development on wetlands. The specific objectives were to find out the human activities involved in slum development and wetlands, to identify the effects of slum development activities to the wetlands and to explore the possible solutions to reduce wetland degradation due to slum development. The researcher used a sample size of 60 respondents and several methods were used to obtain information from the field such as, questionnaires, photography and participatory observation. In this study, several findings were made and conclusions drawn in that a number of activities were discovered that take place in Namuwongo slum in descending order such as crop cultivation as the highest, house construction, brick making, waste disposal, industrial establishment, resource harvesting, trade and commerce while animal rearing was the least carried out thus it was also realized that these activities have resulted from an increase in population. The distance of the respondents’ houses from the wetland is 200-250m which was the majority group and the least was greater than 400m away from the wetland. The effects of the human activities due to slum development to the wetlands include drainage, loss of biodiversity, pollution, reclamation for industrial development, resource depletion, and waste accumulation due to poor waste management hence polluted water and the spread of diseases, also creation of depressions that is large holes. There is also congestion due to poorly planned houses. A number of mitigation measures were explored hence suggested such as regulation of activities in the wetland in accordance with the National Wetland Policy of 1995 by issuing permits, increasing safe and clean piped water, enforcement of policies and regulations, encouraging and increasing community participation, introducing energy saving technologies, promoting continuous public awareness and fmally controlling over population using family planning methods. Based on the conclusions above, the following recommendations were suggested; allocate extension officers, provide loans of low interests, encourage more research and inventory , increased capacity building, create more employment opportunities, and lastly enforcement of the existing laws and policies.

LIST OF TABLES

DEDICATION i

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

LIST OF TABLES v

LIST OF TABLES viii

LIST OF PLATES ix

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS x

ABSTRACT xi

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.1 Introduction and background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 3

1.3 Objectives of the study 4

1.3.1 General objective 4

1.3.3 Specific objective 4

1.4 Research questions 4

1.5 Scope of the study 4

1.6 Significance of the study 5

1.7 Definition of key terms 5

CHAPTER TWO 6

LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.1 Various human activities carried out during slum development in wetlands 6

2.2 Effects of slum development activities on the wetland 8

2.3 Mitigation measures suitable for conserving wetlands 10

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CHAPTER THREE .13

METHODOLOGY 13

3.0 Introduction 13

3.1 Description of the study area 13

3.1.1 Location and area 13

3.1.2 Population 13

3.2 Research design 13

3.3 Sample size and sampling techniques 13

3.3.1 Sample size 13

3.3.2 Sampling techniques 14

3.4 Data collection methods and instruments 14

3.4.1 Questionnaires 14

3.4.2 Photography 14

3.4.3 Participatory observation 14

3.5 Data analysis and presentation 15

3.6 Validity and reliability of the instruments 15

3.6.1 Reliability 15

3.6.2 Validity 15

3.7 Ethical issues 16

CHAPTER FOUR 17

PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 17

4.1 Introduction 17

4.2 Demographic characteristics of the respondents 17

4.3 Various human activities due to slum development to the wetlands 19

4.3.1 Knowledge about what wetlands are 19

vi

4.3.2 Knowledge about the values of wetlands 20

4.3.3 Response for carrying out human activities along the wetland 20

4.3.4 Human activities in the slum and the wetland 21

4.4 Effects of slum development activities to the wetland 24

4.4.1 Distance from the wetland 24

4.4.2 Presence of authorities to protect the wetland 25

4.4.3 Effects of these human activities on the wetland 25

4.5 Mitigation measures set to conserve the wetland 28

CHAPTER FIVE 31

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 31

5.0 Introduction 31

5.1 Conclusions 31

5.2 Recommendations 32

From the study conducted, the researcher also recommends the following things to be done so as to

ensure proper conservation of the wetland and improve living standards of the people; 32

REFERENCES 34

$~alkenmark, M., & Lannerstad, M. (2005), Consumptive water use to feed humanity — curing a blind

spot. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 9(1/2), 15—28 35

APPENDICES 38

APPENDIX I: RESEARCH QUESTIONAIRE 38

Appendix II: Map ofNakivubo wetland 43