IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION ON WATER RESOURCES; A CASE STUDY OF HOIMA MUNICIPALITY HOIMA DISTRICT, UGANDA

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the impacts of urbanization on waler resource in Hoima municipality. It answered three study objectives that included: To find out characteristics of urbanization, examine the impact of urbanization on water resources and possible ways of conserving and managing the existing water resources. The study used cross-sectional research design where both qualitative and quantitative were used and a total of 102 respondents was chosen as the sample size, this was determined using solvene formula. The study considered two types of data namely, primary and secondary data, which were obtained through, questionnaires, interviews and review of relevant literature of scholarly materials. In Uganda, especially in Hoima Municipality — Iloima District, the impact of urbanization on the water resources has greatly increased in recent years due to uncontrolled and poorly managed human activities such as poor waste management, establishment of urban agriculture in wetlands and among others water resources that have been one of the environmental resources that have benefited Uganda in terms of development (urbanization) but however, this has affected their quality and the quantity hence leading to severe environment problems. The study findings were mainly presented using frequencies and percentages which were late presented inform of bar graphs, fiequency distribution tables , the urbanization characteristics of the study area included settlement (residential) and commercial, Urban agriculture, trade and commerce, and among others, The dominant water resources that were outlined in the study area included ; wetlands, streams, wells, aquifers and rivers. On the other hand, the impacts of urbanization on water resources included; pollution, total dry off decline in productivity and loss of biodiversity. Also the possible ways of conserving the existing water resources included proper urban planning, creating awareness, proper waste management, public education and protection laws and acts, findings indicated that there was a strong negative relationship between urbanization and water resources in the study area. The study has made recommendation including; increasing sensitization to the public, extending free waste storage facilities and services, advocacy of effective policies promoting greater transparency in response to public concerns and promoting proper urban planning.