Browsing by Author "Muwanga, A."
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Item Correlation of geoelectric data with aquifer parameters to delineate the groundwater potential of hard rock terrain in Central Uganda.(2010) Batte, A.G.; Barifaijo, E.; Kiberu, J.M.; Kawule, W.; Muwanga, A.; Owor, M.; Kisekulo, J.Knowledge of aquifer parameters is essential for management of groundwater resources. Conventionally, these parameters are estimated through pumping tests carried out on water wells. This paper presents a study that was conducted in three villages (Tumba, Kabazi, and Ndaiga) of Nakasongola District, central Uganda to investigate the hydrogeological characteristics of the basement aquifers. Our objective was to correlate surface resistivity data with aquifer properties in order to reveal the groundwater potential in the district. Existing electrical resistivity and borehole data from 20 villages in Nakasongola District were used to correlate the aquifer apparent resistivity (ρ e) with its hydraulic conductivity (K e), and aquifer transverse resistance (TR) with its transmissivity (T e). K e was found to be related to ρ e by; [Math Processing Error]. Similarly, TR was found to be related to T by; [Math Processing Error]. Using these expressions, aquifer parameters (T c and K c) were extrapolated from measurements obtained from surface resistivity surveys. Our results show very low resistivities for the presumed water-bearing aquifer zones, possibly because of deteriorating quality of the groundwater and their packing and grain size. Drilling at the preferred VES spots was conducted before the pumping tests to reveal the aquifer characteristics. Aquifer parameters (T o and K o) as obtained from pumping tests gave values (29,424.7 m2/day, 374.3 m/day), (9,801.1 m2/day, 437.0 m/day), (31,852.4 m2/day, 392.9 m/day). The estimated aquifer parameter (T c and K c) when extrapolated from surface geoelectrical data gave (7,142.9 m2/day, 381.9 m/day), (28,200.0 m2/day, 463.4 m/day), (19,428.6 m2/day, 459.2 m/day) for Tumba, Kabazi, and Ndaiga villages, respectively. Interestingly, the similarity between the K c and K o pairs was not significantly different. We observed no significant relationships between the T c and T o pairs. The root mean square errors were estimated to be 18,159 m2/day and 41.4 m/day.Item Eutrophication and nutrient release in urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa—a review(Science of the total environment, 2010) Nyenje, P.M.; Foppen, J.W.; Uhlenbrook, S.; Kulabako, R.; Muwanga, A.Eutrophication is an increasing problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and, as a result, the ecological integrity of surface waters becomes compromised, fish populations become extinct, toxic cyanobacteria blooms are abundant, and oxygen levels reduce. In this review we establish the relationship between eutrophication of fresh inland surface waters in SSA and the release of nutrients in their mega-cities. Monitoring reports indicate that the population of mega-cities in SSA is rapidly increasing, and so is the total amount of wastewater produced. Of the total amounts produced, at present, less than 30% is treated in sewage treatment plants, while the remainder is disposed of via onsite sanitation systems, eventually discharging their wastewater into groundwater. When related to the urban water balance of a number of SSA cities, the total amount of wastewater produced may be as high as 10–50% of the total precipitation entering these urban areas, which is considerable, especially since in most cases, precipitation is the most important, if not only the ‘wastewater diluting agent’ present. The most important knowledge gaps include: (1) the fate and transport mechanisms of nutrients (N and P) in soils and aquifers, or, conversely, the soil aquifer treatment characteristics of the regoliths, which cover a large part of SSA, (2) the effect of the episodic and largely uncontrolled removal of nutrients stored at urban surfaces by runoff from precipitation on nutrient budgets in adjacent lakes and rivers draining the urban areas, and (3) the hydrology and hydrogeology within the urban area, including surface water and groundwater flow patterns, transport velocities, dynamics of nutrient transport, and the presence of recharge and discharge areas. In order to make a start with managing this urban population-related eutrophication, many actions are required. As a first step, we suggest to start systematically researching the key areas identified above.Item Geochemistry of the Potassic Basalts from the Bufumbira Volcanic Field in Southwestern Uganda.(2010) Barifaijo, E.; Muwanga, A.; Schumann, A.Bufumbira volcanic field is the southernmost of the four Ugandan small Pleistocene to Recent volcanic fields within the western branch of the East African rift system. The rocks consist of silica undersaturated and vesicular basalts with numerous primary structures. The rocks consist of basanites, leucitites, olivine basalts, trachytes, tephrites, trachyandesites and andesites. The basalts are picritic in the northern part of the field where they are dominated by olivine and are clinopyroxene rich in the southern part of the field. Leucite and plagioclase are common in the groundmass in varying proportions by volume for the entire field. Type 1 dunite and wehrlite upper mantle xenoliths characterize the northern part of the field whereas type II clinopyroxenite xenoliths are common in the southern part of the field. The various basalts are low in SiO2 wt %, Al2O3 wt % and Na2O wt % but high in MgO wt %, TiO2 wt %, CaO wt %, K2O wt % with K2O/Na2O = 1.08 to 2.07. These are potassic belonging to the kamafugite series. Plots discriminate two geochemical trends corresponding to the picritic and clinopyroxene rich basalts. The diagram of Na2O + K2O wt. % against SiO2 wt. % enables various rocks to plot in the designated fields for the different alkaline basalts. The field is enriched in trace, light rare earth (LREE) and high field trace elements (HFSE) where La/Yb = 31 – 55. The petrographic and geochemical studies elucidate enrichment of the upper mantle by both mineralogical (modal) and cryptic (geochemical) metasomatism.Item Impact of industrial activities on heavy metal loading and their physico-chemical effects on wetlands of lake Victoria basin (Uganda)(2006) Muwanga, A.; Barifaijo, E.The diverse functions of wetlands are being adversely affected by human activities. This paper discusses the impact of these activities on heavy metal loading in different media within the wetlands. Water and sediment/soil samples were taken from areas with active industrial activities and from an area where there is no industrial activity. Sources of water pollution include effluents from a brewery (high pH) and areas associated with tanning activities, sewage treatment plant and former copper smelter (high electric conductivity values). Effluents from a battery assembly plant, water treatment plant, pharmaceutical industry and former copper smelter have relatively high Pb values (up to 1.4 ppm) otherwise most heavy metal concentrations are below maximum acceptable limits for water. This calls for mitigation measures. In sediments, high heavy metal values were associated with battery and metal fabricating industry (Pb), operations involving Zn scrap (Cd), former Cu smelter (Cu, Pb, Ni and Co), tannery and pharmaceutical industry (Cr), and soap and cosmetics industry (Hg). Fish have low levels of Hg. However, fish is known to bioaccumulate Hg through methylation, may cause increase in the Hg in the food chain. Industries which release effluents with high heavy metal contents should treat them before discharge.Item Landslides in a densely populated county at the footslopes of Mount Elgon (Uganda): Characteristics and causal factors(Geomorphology, 2006) Knapen, A.; Kitutu, M.G.; Poesen, J.; Breugelmans, W.; Deckers, J.; Muwanga, A.Manjiya County on the Ugandan slopes of Mount Elgon is a densely populated mountainous area where landslides have been reported since the beginning of the twentieth century. The numerous fatalities and the damage done during the extreme rainfall events of 1997 to 1999 drew attention to this phenomenon. In order to better understand the causal factors of these landslides, 98 recent landslides in the study area, mostly debris slumps, were mapped and investigated. Together, they displaced 11 millions m3 of slope material. Statistical analysis shows that landslides dominate on steep concave slope segments that are oriented to the dominant rainfall direction (northeast) and at a relatively large distance from the water divide. Based on landslide occurrence and impact, four different zones can be distinguished within the study area. Causal factors as well as landslide characteristics differ greatly between the four zones. Besides the fact that steep slopes, high rainfall and typical soil properties and stratification turn Manjiya into an inherently unstable area, human interference cannot be neglected. Whereas deforestation has reduced the stability of the shallow soils on the eastern slopes of the study area, the excavation of slopes, mainly for house building, is an important destabilizing factor for the western slopes. The growing population density not only increases the risk on damage, but hampers the search for solutions for the landslide problem as well.Item Vertical electrical sounding as an exploration technique to improve on the certainty of groundwater yield in the fractured crystalline basement aquifers of eastern Uganda. & A. & P.W. & M.(Hydrogeology journal, 2008) Batte, A.G.; Muwanga, A.; Sigrist, P.W.; Owor, M.Groundwater in eastern Uganda mostly occurs in fractures in the crystalline basement rocks and at the interface between the overburden and bedrock. The study was aimed at improving the success rate of boreholes through the use of complimentary geophysical siting procedures in 16 locations in Kamuli District, eastern Uganda. Boreholes that were sited after applying appropriate geophysical techniques yielded adequate quantities of water, whereas those sited where such procedures were not applied were out of service sooner than expected. Techniques to determine the precise location of resistivity anomaly and vertical electrical sounding (VES) models were used to locate water-bearing zones. VESs were undertaken to provide an overview of the geology. The apparent resistivities of the water-bearing zones both from VES and resistivity profiling data, had a relationship with the success rates of the boreholes. Electrical resistivities were correlated with hydrogeological parameters. The majority of successful boreholes had, within water-bearing zones, minimum apparent resistivity values less than 200 and 100 Ohmm, from the resistivity profiling anomalies and VES, respectively. The depth to bedrock was generally greater than 20m below ground level, which indicates potential for medium yielding boreholes.