Assessment Of University Students Awareness Of Environmental Degradation In Kampala. A Case Study Of Kampala International University

ABSTRACT

The study assessed University Students Awareness of Environmental Degradation in Kampala.it

was guided by three objectives that is to say; To find out the different environmental degradation

activities that the students know, To establish some of the effects of environmental degradation in

Kampala that the students are aware off and To find out student’s suggestions on how to deal with

the challenge of environmental degradation in Kampala.

This study employed descriptive and case study design. Both qualitative and quantitative data

collection methods were used through questionnaires. The study was conducted on the students

from Kampala International University in Kampala were a sample of 100 respondents participated

in the study.

The findings reveled that Open dumping of wastes especially in drainage channels was one of the

environmental degradation activities in Kampala city that was mentioned by the students.

There were many environmental degradation activities that were cited by the students but the

most outstanding was the continued flooding in the city after a heavy down pour especially in the

low lying areas such as Bwaise. The students are aware of the different causes of environmental

degradation as known to the respondents. Majority of the respondents reported that growing

population was the major cause, followed by Agricultural Development, urbanization, economic

factors, changing life style. Deforestation, soil erosion and climate change are major

environmental degradation concerns that are common locally, regionally and internationally.

Deforestation is as well one of the major causes of soil erosion and climate change

The study recommends that there is need to design and construct other water source points within

the town council so as to cater for all the water demands of the communities and that of the ever increasing population. Communities need to be trained and sensitized of proper hygiene and sanitation so as to reduce the rate at which waste is being dumped into the drainage channels and the open areas. Kampala Capital City Authority needs to frequently collect garbage from the city slums and sub urban areas