Socio-economic benefits of wetland, the case of Igogero wetland Bugiri district.

Abstract

The topic of the study focused on the contributions of Igogero wetland to the people in Bugiri district more especially those living adjacent the wetland. It also focused on how community interacts with the wetland for their livelihoods and the management of the wetland. The objectives of the study were to assess the socio economic benefits of Igogero swamp to the people of Bugiri, to find out the most common economic activities carried out from the wetland, to examine economic benefit from the wetland, to find out how different organizations have influenced wetland utilization, and to discover the different community actions towards the wetland management and sustainability. Igogero wetland cuts across two districts, that is, Iganga district and Bugiri districts and to the western part of Bugiri district. Igogero swamp crosses Buwanga, Buyanga and Nabukalu sub counties. It is also called Igogero-Ngombwa, it is accessible from the Jinja Tororo road between Bulabo and Busowa. It covers an area of 36.3km2. Data collection for the study involved use of quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data of the eighty respondents was collected using a semi structured questionnaire at the household level. This questionnaire was administered to the household head or to a household member that was active in the wetland utilization. Information gathered by semi-structured questionnaire included socio-economic characteristics of respondents, information on livelihood benefits and information on, attitudes and practices of respondents on wetland conservation, management and ownership. According to the findings, it was discovered that most people living near the wetland have benefited more from the system. People who own land grow rice and other crops like tomatoes, maize. This wetland also directly support many people and provide goods and services to the world outside the wetland. people living close to the wetland soils for agriculture, catch fish for consumption and cut trees for timber and fuel wood and wetland reeds to make mats and to thatch roots. They graze animals like cows, goats and sheep. Clay mining is also a common activity carried out from the wetland employing many people in the district.