Browsing by Author "Namatovu, Faridah"

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The effect of wetland use and cover changes on plant diversity in Masese-budhumbuli wetland, Jinja city, eastern Uganda
(Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2025-11) Namatovu, Faridah
Wetlands are vital for sustaining local livelihoods and providing essential ecosystem services. However, in Uganda, unsustainable wetland use has led to significant degradation. Some wetland plant species are resilient to environmental stresses including changes in land use and land cover. There is limited knowledge about the extent of wetland use and cover changes in the Masese-Budhumbuli wetland and how plant species adapt to these changes. The study aimed to assess the effect of wetland use and cover changes on plant diversity in Masese-Budhumbuli wetland, Jinja City, Eastern Uganda. The study examined the extent and drivers of wetland use and cover changes; determined the effect of wetland use and cover changes on plant diversity; and assessed the ecological resilience of plants to wetland use and cover changes. Satellite images for the years (1993, 2003, 2013 and 2023) utilized. Unsupervised classification was employed to analyze the magnitude of wetland use and cover changes. Plant species data was collected and identified from the Makerere University Herbarium. Multi-criteria decision analysis was applied to evaluate the ecological resilience of plant species in response to wetland use and cover changes. To understand the drivers of wetland, use and cover changes and the plant species resilient to disturbances, household interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were conducted. The findings revealed that substantial changes in wetland use and cover, with farmlands (33.2%) built-up areas (7.4%) and tree plantations (2%) increasing, while grasslands (17.7%) and papyrus (26.1%) declined significantly. Key factors contributing to wetland use and cover changes included the development of industries and housing, rapid urban growth, rising poverty levels, population pressure, and increased crop farming. Changes in wetland use and cover had no statistically significant effect on plant diversity (P > 0.05). A total of 103 plant species were recorded mostly herbs showing high ecological resilience. The correlation between wetland use and cover changes and ecological resilience established to be was weak but statistically significant (P<0.05). Cyperus papyrus, Rubia cordifolia, and Digitaria scalarum were perceived by communities to be mostly resilient to wetland use and cover changes. The study concludes that despite the wetland use and cover changes, plant diversity remained largely unaffected, suggesting a degree of ecological stability in the wetland. The study recommends periodic monitoring of plant diversity, creation of wetland buffer zones, and restoration of degraded wetland sections.