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Uganda Lubigi Wetland photo ARUI archives

Lubigi Wetland is essential for wildlife as well as the communities living around it

Lubigi Wetland is the largest remaining lake on the outskirts of Kampala. Vervet Monkeys and tortoises still occur here, along with storks, herons, cormorants, egrets, ibises, ducks and wintering waders from Europe. The wetland is essential not just for wildlife, but also for the people who live in the slums round about. It provides fish, water to irrigate their vegetables and papyrus for shade. However, the wetland’s survival is threatened due to encroachment by farmers and settlers and pollution from the slums. It can only continue to support life if the neighbouring communities learn to recognise the dangers and work together to protect it. A Rocha has been based here since 2006, laying the foundations of an ambitious community-conservation programme and transforming lives for the better.

One of the villages, Namungoona, was locally infamous for its poor sanitation practices and the high incidence of related diseases. Through A Rocha’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project, two wells which use natural springs have been completed and are now managed by the village council. A public toilet has been constructed in the marketplace. Twenty sanitation and hygiene promotion workshops have been held for the villagers, with evident changes in lifestyle and increased participation in regular clean-ups of garbage. The team is currently helping the local people to build 100 bio-sand filters which treat dirty drinking water by running it through layers of sand. This removes about 97% of bacteria and 90% of viruses, a big step forward!