Encroachment on River Mpanga worries authorities
BY
FELIX BASIIME
&
DORCUS MURUNGI (April 25, 2012)
KABAROLE: District authorities in which
river Mpanga snakes through are worried over its encroachment by the people
living near it and believe they will choke it.
The most
concerned are the leaders of Kabarole district because Mpanga is the main river in the district which the National water and sewerage corporation bases
its supply for Fort Portal town.
According
to the Kabarole Natural Resources Department, degradation of the river banks
through planting of eucalyptus trees along the river, numerous car washing
bays, stone and sand mining are all threatening Mpanga.
This
is coupled with impurities or other materials being dumped direct and polluting
the water which pauses serious threats since most people in the district use
water directly from the rivers.
The river
originates from Mount Rwenzori through Kabarole district, is the boundary of
Kabarole-Kyenjojo districts, snakes through Kibale National Park and flows
through a cleft over the 50 meter Mpanga falls and continues along the boundary
of Queen Elizabeth National Park before it drains into the Lake George, a
Ramsar Site downstream.
“According
to reports which were carried out by various NGOs, it was found out that the
water levels are reducing drastically and the district has entrusted our
department to look for the way forward because we cannot relax when our main
water source is being encroached on” said the Kabarole district environmental
officer, Mr Godfrey Ruyonga on Monday.
The
environment department has also identified stone quarrying, soil erosion and
disposal of human wastes which all affect the river.
The river
which supports a population close to one million along its course is
drastically reducing its water levels as observed by Protos, an NGO which is
working in partnership with Kabarole research and resource center (KRC) in Fort
Portal.
“We have recently observed that the water levels of Mpaga River are reducing and they are not only reducing due to the dry period but also due to human activities which are a major threat to the river” said Mr John Murungi, the Public Relations Officer at KRC.
The NGOs say that an abattoir in Kabundaire in Fort Portal where most of the wastes are thrown in River Mpanga which is a major threat to the river.
According to reports carried out by KRC, a lot of the remains of the abattoir are poured into river Mpanga which contaminates the water.
“We got very shocked when residents of Kabundaire admitted that all the animal remains are poured into the water of which this is not only threatening the water levels but also the health of the great majority of people who cannot afford tap water but use the river water directly,” Murungi
said.
“We have recently observed that the water levels of Mpaga River are reducing and they are not only reducing due to the dry period but also due to human activities which are a major threat to the river” said Mr John Murungi, the Public Relations Officer at KRC.
The NGOs say that an abattoir in Kabundaire in Fort Portal where most of the wastes are thrown in River Mpanga which is a major threat to the river.
According to reports carried out by KRC, a lot of the remains of the abattoir are poured into river Mpanga which contaminates the water.
“We got very shocked when residents of Kabundaire admitted that all the animal remains are poured into the water of which this is not only threatening the water levels but also the health of the great majority of people who cannot afford tap water but use the river water directly,” Murungi
said.
Efforts to stem the problem
The NGOs
have come up with a resolution to preserve the river and save it from
degradation
“We have come up with a resolution of preserving Mpanga River and this time we have designed a communication tool of which we are showing people how they can use the river properly for effective preservation” Murungi says.
“We have come up with a resolution of preserving Mpanga River and this time we have designed a communication tool of which we are showing people how they can use the river properly for effective preservation” Murungi says.
Mr
Godfrey Ruyonga said, “The first initiative is called the upstream which is
targeting farmers. Since the river originates from the mountains, most people
practice farming on the slopes which bring soil erosion and hence contributing
to encroachment of the river but farmers have been taught on the various
methods of farming like terracing, contouring and mulching which can at least
reduce the soil erosion that is affecting the river”
In the
middle stream intervention, Kabarole district is targeting the stone miners.
Stone
quarrying in Karangura Sub County has proved a major threat and so the district
has set rules and regulations to govern mining such that it does not disturb
the water levels.
In the
downstream intervention, the district and NGOs are targeting the people in Fort
Portal municipality where activities along the river banks like the abattoir,
washing bays and pit latrines that are pouring their wastes direct to the
river.
Ruyonga
believes that these interventions will work, “Though the river is still facing
those major threats, we are working steadily and soon the river will be out of
danger”
Mr Jeconious Musingwiire, the western region focal person and public
awareness officer for NEMA has warned that if the upstream catchment (Kabarole
district) of river Mpanga is not well managed, it will in the near future
affect hydro power production at Mpanga hydro power plant in Kamwenge district.
The 18-MW project is worth US$13 million.
“There is encroachment of wetlands, poor agricultural methods coupled
with the impact of urbanization and the key challenges are the impact of water
levels on river Mpanga of which drop will affect the hydro power plant in
Kamwenge if the upstream catchment area is not well managed” says Musingwiire.
Mr Ambrose Atwoko, the Town Clerk Fort Portal municipal
council, which owns
the town abattoir, says,
“Yes, the abattoir dumps wastes in river Mpanga but we are to relocate
it to Kibimba in West division if we get funds and also plant trees and fence
off the land along the river in our area so as to stop any further activities”
Atwoko said adding, “We have already warned the operators of the washing bays
to relocate”
One of the managers of the washing bay in town, Ms Jennifer Abwooli says,
“We have constructed soak pits so that water from the washing bay is contained
and does not go direct to the river”
Most washing bays in Fort Portal town are perched along the banks of
River Mpanga or its tributaries.
UTILITIES
Environmental
laws in Uganda stipulate that there should be no developments or activities
within 100 metres from water bodies.
As an
indicator of the importance of river Mpanga it has in the region, several
businesses and institutions are named after Mpanga in the districts where it
flows in Kabarole, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge.
These
include; Mpanga SS in Fort Portal town, Mpanga growers’ tea factory
(manufactures of Mpanga tea in Kabarole district, Mpanga hydro power station in
Kamwenge district, Mpanga market in Fort Portal town, Mpanga millers in Fort
Portal town.
Kabarole is endowed with several rivers which include; Kayagi, Kaija,
Kahomba, Sogohi, Muzizi, Rwimi, Kakoko, Kakule, Kabago, Kizikibi and
Mpanga among others which have their sources in Rwenzori
Mountains (Source: Kabarole district
local government five year development plan 2011-2016).
END
