Water Resources of Uganda: An Assessment and Review
Affiliation(s)
1 Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 2 National Environmental Consult Ltd., Kampala, Uganda. 3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kampala, Uganda.
1 Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 2 National Environmental Consult Ltd., Kampala, Uganda. 3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kampala, Uganda.
ABSTRACT
Water resources of a country constitute one of its vital assets that significantly contribute to the socio-economic development and poverty eradication. However, this resource is unevenly distributed in both time and space. The major source of water for these resources is direct rainfall, which is recently experiencing variability that threatens the distribution of resources and water availability in Uganda. The annual rainfall received in Uganda varies from 500 mm to 2800 mm, with an average of 1180 mm received in two main seasons. The spatial distribution of rainfall has resulted into a network of great rivers and lakes that possess big potential for development. These resources are being developed and depleted at a fast rate, a situation that requires assessment to establish present status of water resources in the country. The paper reviews the characteristics, availability, demand and importance of present day water resources in Uganda as well as describing the various issues, challenges and management of water resources of the country.
Water resources of a country constitute one of its vital assets that significantly contribute to the socio-economic development and poverty eradication. However, this resource is unevenly distributed in both time and space. The major source of water for these resources is direct rainfall, which is recently experiencing variability that threatens the distribution of resources and water availability in Uganda. The annual rainfall received in Uganda varies from 500 mm to 2800 mm, with an average of 1180 mm received in two main seasons. The spatial distribution of rainfall has resulted into a network of great rivers and lakes that possess big potential for development. These resources are being developed and depleted at a fast rate, a situation that requires assessment to establish present status of water resources in the country. The paper reviews the characteristics, availability, demand and importance of present day water resources in Uganda as well as describing the various issues, challenges and management of water resources of the country.
KEYWORDS
Water Resources Management, Water Resources Utilisation, Climate Change, Water Resources Development, Uganda
Water Resources Management, Water Resources Utilisation, Climate Change, Water Resources Development, Uganda
Cite this paper
Nsubuga, F. , Namutebi, E. and Nsubuga-Ssenfuma, M. (2014) Water Resources of Uganda: An Assessment and Review. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 6, 1297-1315. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2014.614120.
Nsubuga, F. , Namutebi, E. and Nsubuga-Ssenfuma, M. (2014) Water Resources of Uganda: An Assessment and Review. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 6, 1297-1315. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2014.614120.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00704-004-0057-4 [8] FAO (2005) Uganda-AQUASTAT Survey, Irrigation in Africa in Figures. FAO Water Reports, Rome.
http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/countries_regions/uganda/index.stm [9] NEMA (1998) State of Environment Report for Uganda. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kampala. [10] DWRM (2011) A Case Study of River Rwizi, Lake Wamala, Lake Victoria Catchments and Representative Ground Water Monitoring Stations. Water Resources Monitoring and Assessment Division. Directorate of Water Resources Management (DWRM) Entebbe, Uganda. [11] Molg, T., Georges, C. and Kaser, G (2003) The Contribution of Increased Incoming Shortwave Radiation to the Retreat of the Rwenzori Glaciers, East Africa, during the 20th Century. International Journal of Climatology, 23, 291-303.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-008-9409-x [13] Mileham, L., Taylor, R.G., Todd, M., Tindimugaya, C. and Thompson, J. (2009) The Impact of Climate Change on Groundwater Recharge and Runoff in a Humid, Equatorial Catchment: Sensitivity of Projections to Rainfall Intensity. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 54, 727-738.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1623/hysj.54.4.727 [14] Taylor, R.G. and Howard, K.W.F. (1996) Groundwater Recharge in the Victoria Nile Basin of East Africa: Support for the Soil-Moisture Balance Method Using Stable Isotope and Flow Modelling Studies. Journal of Hydrology, 180, 31-53.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(95)02899-4 [15] Tate, E., Suitcliffe, J., Conway, D. and Farquharson, F. (2004) Water Balance of Lake Victoria: Update to 2000 and Climate Change Modelling to 2100. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 49, 563-574. [16] Tindimugaya, C. (2006) Overview of Groundwater Development in Uganda. Proceedings of the Workshop for Groundwater Professionals in Uganda, Kampala, 25 August 2006, Unpublished. [17] Nyenje, P.M. and Batelaan, O. (2009) Estimating the Effects of Climate Change on Groundwater Recharge and Baseflow in the Upper Ssezibwa Catchment, Uganda. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 54, 713-726.
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Operations/9_AFDB_watsan_UG [27] African Development Bank (2012) AFDB Promotes Improved Access to Water, Sanitation and Health Services in Rural and Urban Uganda. African Development Bank Group.
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access-to-water-sanitation-and-health-services-in-rural-and-urban-uganda-8771/ [28] Kull, D. (2006) Connections between Recent Water Level Drops in Lake Victoria, Dam Operations and Drought.
http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/attached-files/full_report_pdf.pdf [29] Hulme, M. (1992) Rainfall Changes in Africa: 1931-1960 to 1961-1990. International Journal of Climatology, 12, 685-699.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1623/hysj.54.4.713 [30] Hastenrath, S. (2001) Variations of East African Climate during the Past Two Centuries. Climatic Change, 50, 209-217.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1010678111442 [31] Mistry, V.V. and Conway, D. (2003) Remote Forcing of East African Rainfall and Relationships with Fluctuations in Levels of Lake Victoria. International Journal of Climatology, 23, 67-89.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.861 [32] Nicholson, S.E., Yin, X. and Ba, M.B. (2000) On the Feasibility of Using a Lake Water Balance Model to Infer Rainfall: An Example from Lake Victoria. Hydrological Science Journal, 45, 75-95.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626660009492307 [33] Taylor, R.G., Mileham, L., Tindimugaya, C. and Mwebembezi, L. (2009) Recent Glacial Recession and Its Impact on Alpine River Flow in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 55, 205-213.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.04.008 [34] Kaser, G., Hardy, D.R., Molg, T., Bradley, R.S. and Hyera, T.M. (2004) Modern Glacier Retreat on Kilimanjaro as Evidence of Climate Change: Observations and Facts. International Journal of Climatology, 24, 329-339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.1008 [35] MWE (2011) Uganda Water and Environment Sector Performance Report 2011, Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment, Kampala. [36] GWP (2000) Integrated Water Resources Management. Global Water Partnership (GWP) Technical Advisory Committee, Background Paper No.4. [37] Rogers, P. and Hall, A.W. (2003) Effective Water Governance. Technical Committee Background Papers No.7, Global Water Partnership (GWP). [38] Turton, A.R., Hattingh, H.J., Maree, G.A., Roux, D.J., Claassen, M. and Strydom, W.F., Eds. (2007) Governance as a Trialogue: Government-Society-Science in Transition. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-46266-8 [39] Sewagudde, S. (2011) Catchment Based Water Resources Management: Uganda’s Journey to Taking the IWRM Concept to the Grass Root. Wash Watch, 2, 19-23. [40] Human Development Report, HDR (2006) Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and Global Water Crisis. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. [41] NEMA (1996) State of the Environment Report for Uganda 1996. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kampala.