Browsing by Author "Byarugaba, D."

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    Disappearing Forests Of Uganda: The Way Forward
    (Current Science, 2001) Kayanja, F. I. B.; Byarugaba, D.
    Encroachment on state lands is a common practice in Uganda. Forest reserves are a form of state land under forest cover of either high land tropical forest (HLTF) or low land moist forest (LMF), and woodlands. Deforestation is eminent in Uganda considering the reduction of forest cover from the precolonial days to present. Forest clearance for agriculture in southwestern Uganda montane forests is thought to have begun some 2200 years ago with arrival of Bantu-speaking peoples who had iron smelting technology. These ethnic groups encountered the Batwa (pygmies) people, who traded forest products for food, a scenario that initiated accelerated deforestation. Deforestation in Uganda has reduced the ecological interactions that support sharing of resources. These include light, temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, pests, diseases, symbiots, soil nutrients, organic matter, moisture and space. As a result areas which were formally under forest cover now hardly support any plant life. Efforts are being made to contain the situation by adopting collaborative forest management, enacting laws and regulations that can help guide forest conservation.
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    Impact of Human Activities on the Quality of Water in Nyaruzinga Wetland of Bushenyi District - Uganda
    (International Science Congress Association, 2012) Safari, D.; Mulongo, G.; Byarugaba, D.; Tumwesigye, W.
    The study presents an investigation into the effect of various human activities on the degradation and lowering of water quality in Nyaruzinga wetland which is located in Bushenyi district, South Western Uganda. Water samples were drawn from six different places (one town supply, one water reservoir) and four contaminated sources near the wetland. The results were compared to both national and WHO guidelines. The different parameters assessed included apparent colour (AC), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity (Tur), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness (TH), pH and microbial activity using E. coli as a standard test. Experimental methods were composed of complexometric titration, turbidimetry, pH direct meter reading, spectrophotometry and standard plate count, using membrane filter technique. Results obtained revealed that most of the parameters investigated were outside the range recommended by both national standard and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Such results were mainly attributed to fish farming and sewage discharge from the surrounding institutions.