Browsing by Author "Nabukonde, Ameria"

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Solid Waste Management Practices in Nakasongola Town Council, Uganda
(Journal of Global Ecology and Environment, 2024-11-06) Andama, Charles Ajuni; Nabukonde, Ameria; Barakagira, Alex
Solid waste generation rates are rising and the world's cities are believed to be generating about 2.01 billion tons of solid waste, amounting to a footprint of 0.74 kilograms per person per day. The rapid population growth and urbanization has exacerbated the condition concerning solid wastes. This study focused on the management of the solid wastes in Nakasongola Town Council, Uganda. Specifically, it aimed at the determining of the types of wastes generated, determined the existing solid waste management methods employed by the residents in the area, and examined the factors that influenced the solid waste management practices among the residents of the town council. A descriptive survey design was utilized to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from the 160 households within Nakasongola Town Council. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires, interviews, direct observations and documentary reviews. Key findings with their corresponding means, indicate organic wastes (4.21), plastics (4.26), rubbish and ashes (3.65) were the major types of wastes produced by the residents of Nakasongola Town Council. Incineration (4.36), composting (4.29) and sanitary landfill (4.15) were the main practices used to manage solid wastes in the town council. However, the solid waste management practices in the study area are influenced by the income levels of the residents (86%), household size (66%), level of education (59%) and stability of the residents living in the town council (72%) among others. The study concludes that solid waste management practices in Nakasongola are significantly influenced by demographic factors, particularly attitudes, income levels, and knowledge of waste management, highlighting the necessity for targeted interventions to improve waste management outcomes in the community. Based on the findings, the study recommends implementing comprehensive community education programs on solid waste management, introduction of affordable waste disposal options, and adoption of a policy for better management of solid wastes at the lowest level of governance.
Uncovering the Anthropogenic Influences on Water Quality: A Case of Lake Victoria Shores, Entebbe, Uganda
(Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 2024-11-05) Nur, Mustafe Said; Nabukonde, Ameria; Barakagira, Alex
Lakes serve as vital ecosystems, providing freshwater resources and habitats for diverse species. However, human activities, particularly around lakeshores, have led to significant environmental degradation, including heavy metal contamination. Lake Victoria, the second-largest fresh water lake globally, has been severely impacted by pollution from industrial, agricultural, and urban sources. This research aims at examining the influence of the anthropogenic activities on the water quality of Lake Victoria. Specifically, the study tried to determine the activities undertaken at the Lake shores of Lake Victoria; determined the physico-chemical parameters of the water from the shores and the heavy metal concentration in the water samples obtained from the shores of Lake Victoria. This study utilized a cross-sectional and experimental research designs to assess water quality and anthropogenic influences around Lake Victoria. A total of 150 residents from selected communities were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire to gather demographic information, perceptions of water quality and the activities carried out within the shores of Lake Victoria. Water samples were collected from multiple sites along the lake shores for analysis of heavy metals using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Water quality parameters were determined In-situ using a multi-parameter water testing kit and Hanna instrument. Results showed that the anthropogenic activities that could have contributed to water degradation include: fishing, transport, agriculture and construction among others. Apart from pH which was outside the permissible limits, all the other water parameters were within the WHO permissible limits. Considering the heavy metal concentration, all the sampled sites apart from one inlet, had the concentrations above the WHO permissible levels an indication of significant heavy metal contamination in the Lake Victoria shores. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted pollution control measures and regular monitoring to mitigate further environmental degradation. Effective interventions, including stricter regulations and sustainable land use practices within the Victoria shores are essential for safeguarding the lake's ecosystem and the health of surrounding communities.
The use of geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies in generation of information used to mitigate risks from landslide disasters: an application review
(Archives of Current Research International, 2023-08-03) Nabukonde, Ameria; Barakagira, Alex; Akwango, Dammalie
Landslides, whether induced by nature, or human activities, are one of the most prominent disasters which are of great concern in the world. They cause a lot of havoc to the environment hence a necessity to avoid them whenever possible. This literature review is basically aimed at finding out how Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologiesare used in avoiding landslides and risks associated with them at different levels; Challenges encountered while using GIS and RS techniques for landslide disaster risk reduction are identified; and therefore, dealing with them requires the involvement of developed countries who have the capacity to provide the necessary equipment to the developing countries that are faced with disasters. This study discusses the use of GIS and RS in mitigation of risks from landslides, and mainly points out how these techniques are applied to avoid disaster risks. Secondary data was reviewed from journal articles, institutional reports, and online publications from similar studies. GIS and RS tools are important in predicting, monitoring and managing landslide disasters. It was concluded that GIS and RS tools provide cheaper, reliable, and faster techniques of accessing spatial data in a given area, therefore regarded as essential technologies that may be necessary for predicting landslide occurrences, these technologies need to be considered in communities which are prone to landslides.