LAKE KYOGA BASIN

Kyoga basin wetlands

NAMUTALA-DOHO WET-LAND

This basin takes its name from the largest lake in its catchment lake Kyoga. The basin extends over an area of 45,233km² covering 41 districts in the eastern and north eastern lowlands of the country. Other lakes in the catchment include Bisina, Kwanja, Nakuru and Opeta. The main human activities in this basin are fishing, cultivation and livestock rearing. There are no industrial enterprises in the area due to lack of electricity connections.

The Doho wetland is famous for the Doho Rice Scheme established in 1942 with the aim of boosting food production in the country. The scheme was located on the River Manafwa wetlands at the East of Mt. Elgon and covers an area of 3200km. it includes a network of channels to serve the rice fields and for water supply. The Doho rice scheme is of important conservation status due to the presence of threatened bird species and migratory birds and as such was designated an important Bird area, it is termed IBA.

THE CHALLENGE

Threats to this wetland come from the increasing human population in nearby towns such as Mbale putting pressure on the wetland for land, for agriculture, settlement and urban development.

· This has resulted into conversion of the wetland for rice agriculture.

· Increased pollution from Waragi distillation and sewerage discharge and an increase in the intensity of use.

· There are also plans by the Uganda investment authority to develop an industrial park there and the construction of Livingstone university.

IMPACTS

1. Invasion of the Namatala-Doha wetland by small holder rice farmers over the last 15 years has led to the conversion of 80 to 90 percent of the wetland to Paddy field.

2. Poisoning of Birds especially the open billed stork is of concern growth of Mbale town has led to increase in pollution from the municipality encroachment before the settlements.

3.  The increasing intensity of use has led to major conflicts between local communities over right of access and ownership.

4. It is thought that irrigated agriculture should cause some negative impact on the wetland including the drying out of wetlands with implications for the downstream riparian communities (Galbraith, Amerasinglie, Huber-lee 2005) for example, the Olmeny rice scheme in Lira and Dokolo Districts is thought to have reduced the mud fish population in the swamp food security in the area.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Operationalize and implement the guidelines on the agricultural use of wetlands.

B. Undertake a study to critically assess the impacts of rice growing on wetland in Uganda. Other irrigation schemes in the country include Olweny in Lira/Dokoto district, Agaro in Kitgum, Mubuku in Kasese and Kibimba in Iganga.

C. Although some argue that wetlands can co-exist with irrigated agriculture, there is need for more research in this area as much will depend on the scale and nature of the irrigated activity and the type of wetland. It will be important to assess human factors and the potential long terms ecological effects of such water storage schemes.