Fish and water provisioning to the local communities by Naigombwa Wetland in Iganga District, Uganda

Abstract

In Uganda wetlands cover 10.9% of the surface area of the country and provide ecosystem services that improve people’s livelihoods. This study investigated the role of Naigombwa wetland in Iganga District, Uganda in improving the livelihoods of the local communities. The study determined the land use activities within and close to the wetland, documented the fish species in the wetland and their distribution in the wet and dry seasons and at different location of the wetland; assessed the baseline data of physico-chemical water quality of the wetland, and also assessed the socio-economic benefits of fish and water to the communities of the area and their spatial and temporal variation. Through field visits, land use activities were observed and noted. Fish species were documented through observations and with the help of a fish guide. Further, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fishermen and local communities to document the different fish species caught in the wetland and Socio-economic benefits of water and fish. Cultivation of paddy rice is the major activity taking place in the wetland covering 590 hectares compared to other land use activities and has resulted into conversion of a considerably large area of the wetland. Fish caught from the wetland both in wet and dry season were; Cat fish (35.4+/-), Lung fish (13+/-), Tilapia (55.5+/-), Silver fish (54.5+/-), Mud fish (30+/-) and Walking catfish (19+/-). Fish diversity was high in the wet season of the degraded and intact part of the wetland. In view of socio-economic benefits to the communities, fishermen benefit more from fish income in wet season compared to dry season, and water sellers earned more money during dry season. The study concluded that land use activities in the wetland posed serious threat to the wetland. It is recommended that the wetland should be conserved so as to ensure its continuous benefits to the local communities.