THE LAKE VICTORIA CRISIS:
THE LAKE VICTORIA CRISIS:
A Conflict Theoretical Approach to the Nature, Society and Water Relationship in Murchison Bay, Uganda
Introduction In this study that has been developed and proposed as a component of the of the multi-disciplinary Nature, Society and Water research programme, the overriding objective will be to focus on the intricate and delicate relationship between society and nature in the context of water resources. Emphasis is placed on the delicate balance between the need for environmental and water resource protection and conservation on the one hand, and on the other, the other needs of society which sometimes inevitably encroach on the environment. This is a paradoxical situation which, if properly analysed, could help harmonise the socio-economic and environmental needs of society, and hopefully lead to better water resource management. As Davis (1993) points out, environmental protection and development must go hand in hand.
The Nature, Society and Water research project is organized as an interdisciplinary programme focusing on research both in the natural and social sciences over the unifying theme of water. It is sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council, Makerere University and the University of Bergen in Norway. The overall approach of the programme is to search for areas where interactions between nature and society are assumed to be particularly strong.
In this particular study, the relationship between nature, water and society will be investigated by using Lake Victoria's Murchison Bay near Kampala in Uganda as a case study. One of the ways in which this relationship will be studied is to look at how society, through various economic and related activities, has affected the water resources in and around Murchison Bay. Factors governing the relationship between society and nature, the social relations which emerge out of water resource utilization and conservation, as well as the consequences of these relations, will be investigated.
The theoretical framework on which this study is built is that conflict arises when society members have to compete for a limited resource or have varied opinions on how the limited resource should be utilized. It has been observed that there are increasing demands on the natural resources because of population and other pressures (Barrow, 1999), and its only natural to expect that such demand will result in conflicts. In order to maintain harmony therefore, society is challenged to recognize such conflict as a warning of a looming crisis that ought to be averted.
Murchison Bay extends into a network of wetlands (also called swamps) that account for a large proportion of its water quality. These swamps have traditionally served the role of filtering the water that flows into the bay, and experiences from other places such as Calcutta in India have shown that the wetlands are used to purify waste water from the city (Davis, 1993). However, a variety of literature attests to the deteriorating relationship between society and Murchison bay, and Lake Victoria in general, and this is especially manifested by the high levels of pollution in the lake (Chege; 1995, NEMA). Most writers have laid the blame for this pollution squarely on society that has systematically encroached on the wetlands around the lake, and Murchison bay in particular.
That society has through various activities inflicted massive damage on Murchison bay is therefore a foregone conclusion, and this study will not engage debates about it. The focus will be put on the social dynamics that underscore the deteriorating relationship between society and the water resources, in the context of wetland utilisation.
Background
The Nature, Society and Water research programme, of which this study forms a part, brings together several researchers from several backgrounds, disciplines and countries to focus on the important questions relating to the interaction between man and his environment, with particular emphasis on water.
Fresh water is an extremely vital component in the development and health cycle of society. Historically, all societies have depended on the availability of fresh water for their survival and development. The sustainable management, development and utilisation of water resources are therefore an important factor in alleviating present and future human suffering. However, the management of water resources, as well as the management of the complex relationships that emerge from the utilisation of water and other natural resources for sustainable development, seems to be becoming an increasingly difficult concept (Ongley; 1996).
It is within this framework that this study of society's relationship with nature and water in Uganda has focused on Lake Victoria's Murchison Bay near the capital Kampala. Situated to the south-east of the city and covering approximately 60 km sq, Murchison bay is an extremely important feature of the ecosystem, as well as the development and health of the over one million people in its catchment area. It is not only a source of food, water, employment, transport and recreation, but is also now used as dumping 'ground' for various types of waste.
The network of wetlands into which the bay extends has traditionally played a part in its water quality. Although some people may see wetlands as unproductive and unhealthy, there is growing realization of their value, and various bodies such as governments and academicians have devoted considerable attention to them. There is a need to reach a better understanding not only of their biological importance, but also of their social, economic and cultural functions (Davis, op cit). Some of the important roles traditionally played by the wetlands of Murchison bay include:
They help filter the water that flows into the bay. The vegetation in the wetlands helps retain sediments and absorb harmful substances in the water that flows into the lake.
They serve as a store of water which can be used for a variety of purposes.
They contribute to agricultural production that may be practised along their banks.
Despite their importance however, the wetlands in Murchison bay have been encroached upon and utilised by society in such a way as to alter their normal and natural functions. The present status of much of the wetlands in the bay is such that a lot of them are no longer recognisable as such. They have been put to such use as residence, location of industry, extractive cottage industry such as brick making, dumping of waste and as channels for liquid waste.
The consequences of this encroachment on the water resources and on the ecological balance are fairly well documented. Writing about the state of Lake Victoria, Chege (1995) has observed that the once clear, life-filled lake is murky, smelly and choking with algae. She states that the ecological health of the lake has been affected profoundly as a result of the rapidly growing population, clearance of natural vegetation along the shores, and dumping of untreated effluent by several industries.
The high levels of pollution in Murchison bay ought to be of particular concern to the people of Kampala because the bay is the most important source of water for the city. However, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation not only draws water for the city from this bay, but also lets semi-treated sewage from the city into the lake at a point only four kilometres from the water intake!
The number of stakeholders in the use, management and development of water and water resources is wide and diverse. It includes the different users, commercial entities, fishermen, policy makers, planners, environmental conservationists as well as the civil society in general Frank Place (1999) has stated that key national and local stakeholders over water resources are found at various levels resulting in a lack of a common vision and goals for the role of biodiversity. Objective research therefore needs to be carried out to address the questions of how the variety of interests could be harmonised in order to facilitate the sustainable management, development and exploitation the water resources.
The historical, social and scientific aspects relating to water and water resource use in Murchison bay are therefore complex. This study however is concerned with the social issues which are expected to arise out of the inquiry into water and water resource utilization, and will centre on the utilisation of the wetlands.
The Problem
Although Lake Victoria's Murchison bay is an extremely important section of the lake for the people of Kampala, the network of wetlands that have traditionally served to filter water that flows into it are being depleted by society. This depletion is manifested by the high rate of encroachment on them for other economic and related purposes, at the expense of water quality, environmental and health concerns.
A conflict of interests therefore emerges between society's need to conserve the wetlands, and society's need to use them for mainly survival based purposes, such as agriculture and residential housing. In addition, conflict also arises between the various actors or stakeholders such as the actual users, the environmentalists, policy makers and planners.
Whereas the issue that seems to prevail and capture public and intellectual debate is the conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity of Murchison bay and water resources in general, this debate should no longer ignore the stark reality of society's need to otherwise utilize these resources.
There is a variety of literature that has documented the depletion of the wetlands and the effect of this depletion on the ecosystem. However, very little attention has been paid to the social dynamics that relate to the use of these wetlands, and much less so to the nature and implications of the conflictual relationships that arise out of wetland use.
On the international scene, it has been widely recognised that competition for and use of limited natural resources is a real cause of international and local conflict, sometimes culminating into actual aggressive confrontation (Ohlsson; 1999, Lidskog; 1998). However, very little recognition and use is made, in similar context, of the fact that conflict is a dynamic and functional phenomenon that need not be perceived only in negative and counter-productive terms. Hence the question: how can the conflict, real and potential, be put to positive use for the simultaneous benefit of Murchison bay and society?
An understanding of the nature of this conflict, which this study hopes to achieve, is important as one of the means to restore or reconstruct a new orderly relationship between society and water resources. It is a strategy that recognizes that much as society needs the wetlands for the ecosystem's stability, these wetlands have also come to serve other purposes which are difficult to reverse. A conflict theoretical perspective is therefore used to address these issues.
Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between society and nature, with particular reference to the use of wetlands around Murchison bay, and the relationships that emerge from the use of the wetlands, with a view to exploring ways in which the various interest groups and needs can co-exist so as to ensure the continued sustainability of these water resources.
Specific Objectives
In order to pursue and achieve the broad objective, the following specific objectives have been selected to give direction to the study. ·
· To study the historical evolution of the wetland use, in Murchison bay in particular, in order to give context and background to the study. ·
· To investigate the socio-economic factors that contribute to the use of/encroachment on wetlands. It is anticipated that an investigation of these factors will inform the study on the specific vested interests of the various users in the wetlands, and also contribute to the formulation of suggestions for the way forward. ·
· To describe the nature of present day use of the wetlands around Kampala. This will help guide the study on the hierarchy of use and users. ·
· To investigate the type of relations that emerge between the different users of the wetlands. This is expected to inform the study on possible forms of cooperation between the different users, and the possibility of harmonizing their interests. ·
· To investigate the relationships that exist between the users and the policy makers. This will help to establish the possible areas of conflict and the areas of cooperation between these two interest groups.
· To establish the measures currently in place to regulate the use of wetlands.
· To make recommendations on how the various interests and ideologies, held by different stakeholders over the wetlands, could be harmonized for the sustainability of Murchison bay.
Significance of the Study
The study takes place at a time when environmental concerns reign high amidst, and quite often in conflict with, a dire need in society, worldwide, for survival or a more comfortable life.
In Uganda, environmental and health concerns have drawn attention, expressed through various fora, of policy makers, planners, health workers academics and others to the deteriorating state of Murchison bay, which is almost entirely due to human activity.
This study seeks to make a contribution to the society versus nature (water resource) debate, by exploring avenues in which both society and nature can be winners, and hence promote the harmonious co-existence of both.
Time Frame
It is hoped that the study will take three year, beginning September 2000 and divided into three phases as follows:
1. One year of literature review and development of research instruments
2. One year of fieldwork
3. One year of report writing
Methodology
The study of the factors relating to the utilization of the wetlands around Kampala as it concerns the ecosystem and biodiversity of Lake Victoria's Murchison bay shall require a multi-pronged approach because of the diverse nature of the issues that do arise. There are a variety of stakeholders in the use and concern for the wetlands, and therefore information will have to be gathered from a variety of sources and in a variety of ways that will include: ·
· Review of literature available to the researcher on the subject
· Interviews and discussions with various stakeholders and researchers ·
· Questionnaire surveys ·
· Field observations
Secondary information
Secondary information will be gathered from the available literature in both Uganda and Norway. In Uganda, emphasis will be placed on literature that relates to the historical and contemporary issues such as conservation, pollution and policy relating to the wetlands. This literature is expected to be available in the archives of such organizations as:
· Makerere University Kampala
· National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
· Kampala City Council (KCC)
· Ministry of Lands, Water and Natural Resources
· Directorate of Water Development (DWD)
· National Water and Sewerage Corporation
· Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
· Uganda Investment Authority
In Norway, literature available at or through the University of Bergen will be extensively used. Internet searches will also be used to supplement the available literature.
Primary data
Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, primary data will be collected from the following types of stakeholders in various sites that have still be identified:
· Individuals who have residential property in the wetlands
· Individuals who use the wetlands for agriculture.
· Individuals who have/run small and semi-permanent cottage industries such as brick making, wood-working, etc.
· Individuals who hold freehold title to sections of wetlands
· Large-scale industrialists
· Relevant officers in the organizations targeted for secondary information collection mentioned above.
· Other researchers on the Nature, Society and Water research programme in Uganda and Norway.
Data analysis
It is expected that primary data will be analysed using the S.P.S.S and Ep Info computer data analysis programmes.
Theoretical context
The central theme of this study is the nature of the relationship between society and water resources, and the social relations that consequently emerge from it, with a focus on the wetlands and waters of Murchison bay in Uganda.
The study is guided by the conflict theoretical perspective, which basically is concerned about the organization of society, the behaviour of people and groups, and explains why structures take the forms that they do at various historical times, and how and what sort of changes occur (Ritzer, 1990). In a narrower sense, conflict theory can be conceptualized in a functionalist manner, by focusing largely on the consequences of conflict in a social system. Arguments abound that the control of resources is a highly probable cause of conflict in society. Individuals or groups that exercise or have greater access to the use or control of resources are in a privileged position, whereas those who do not have such control are in the opposite position. In the context of access, utilization and control of the wetlands in Murchison bay, it is assumed that the variety and diversity of users and interests is a potential cause of conflictual relations in society, and the challenge is to find out the extent and nature of this conflict and use it to restore or reconstruct a new orderly relationship.
Many activities and actors are entangled in the wetland and water resource question. A variety of individuals and groups therefore relate to the wetlands in Murchison bay in different ways, and at different levels. On the other hand, every member of society directly or indirectly relates with the wetlands because of the diverse nature of their functions.
What then are the consequences and implications of these relationships? Some people practice agriculture in the wetlands, others have commercial interests such as big and small industry, others have taken up residence, and others use them as dumping grounds for waste. How can all these interests be harmoniously accommodated in a wetland system that should ideally be free of all of them?
Social change is driven especially by conflict (Giddens; 1987 ), and it's only rational to think that the conflict that arises in the use of wetlands could be a basis for change. In a functionalist analysis, this conflict would be a sign that order is giving way to disorder, and that a new order needs to be established; a new order that will take account of the new circumstances.
At another level of abstraction, conflict theorists hold the general view that where some kind of resource becomes available, it will further the interests of some actors, who will use it to develop a form of stratification (Wallace and Wolf; 1980). The kind and degree of control, access and use of the resources fosters inequality among the stakeholders, hence a form of stratification.
One may therefore be tempted to think that a form of stratification could be in the making based on the control, access and use of the wetlands in Murchison bay. The multiplicity of stakeholders in this resource is such that certain interest groups are likely to, deliberately or otherwise, play a more domineering role in or towards its exploitation.
At the level of ideology, certain ideologies are more likely to take precedence and therefore dominate others over the wetlands, depending on the powers behind them. For example, there are basic survival ideologies by which some people use the wetlands for bare survival, environmental ideologies by which some people perceive the wetlands as an environmental resource, health ideologies by which some see the wetlands as a source of clean water, and private commercial/profit ideologies by which industrialists see the wetlands as convenient locations. These are but a few examples of groups of ideologies, though they may not be so clearly dichotomised in real life. However, there is clearly a sense in which certain ideologies may dominate or be subdued by others, and thereby manifest conflict.
An analysis of the relationship between nature, society and water in the context of the utilization of the wetlands in Murchison bay would therefore be immensely enriched when placed in conflict theoretical framework. An understanding of the relationships that emerge from the use and conquest of the wetlands would go a long way in creating avenues for the restoration of an orderly balance between nature, society and water. What, then, are the various dimensions of this conflict, and what are its implications for Murchison bay?
References
Barrow, Edmund (1999): Drylands - Whose Biodiversity? Whose to Use? And Whose to Conserve? Challenging Received Wisdom in A Report on Regional Workshop on Mainstreaming Agriculture into Forestry. ICRAF, Nairobi, Nov 1999.
Chege, Nancy (1995): Lake Victoria, a Sick Giant; People on the Planet
Davis T. J. Ed. (1993): Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands: Report of the Wise Use Project, The Ramsar Convention Bureau, Gland - Switzerland.
Giddens, A and Turner J. H. (1987): Social Theory Today, Polity Press, Cambridge
Lidskog, R. (1998): Social Aspects of the Siting of Facilities for Hazardous Waste Management in Waste Management and Research, Vol 16, 1998
NEMA: The National Environmental Action Plan for Uganda
Ohlsson, Leif, (1999): Environment Scarcity and Conflict; A Study of Malthusian Concerns; Department of Peace and Development Research, Sweden
Ongley Edwin, (1996): Control of Water Pollution from Agriculture, FAO, Rome
Place, Frank, (1999): Agriculture and Forestry Interaction: The Importance of Population Pressure and Property Rights in A Report on Regional Workshop on Mainstreaming Agriculture into Forestry. ICRAF, Nairobi, Nov 1999
Ritzer, George (1990): Frontiers of Social Theory: The New Syntheses, Colombia University Press, New York
Wallace A. R and Wolf Allison (1980): Contemporary Sociological Theory, Prentice Hall, New Jersey
A Conflict Theoretical Approach to the Nature, Society and Water Relationship in Murchison Bay, Uganda
Introduction In this study that has been developed and proposed as a component of the of the multi-disciplinary Nature, Society and Water research programme, the overriding objective will be to focus on the intricate and delicate relationship between society and nature in the context of water resources. Emphasis is placed on the delicate balance between the need for environmental and water resource protection and conservation on the one hand, and on the other, the other needs of society which sometimes inevitably encroach on the environment. This is a paradoxical situation which, if properly analysed, could help harmonise the socio-economic and environmental needs of society, and hopefully lead to better water resource management. As Davis (1993) points out, environmental protection and development must go hand in hand.
The Nature, Society and Water research project is organized as an interdisciplinary programme focusing on research both in the natural and social sciences over the unifying theme of water. It is sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council, Makerere University and the University of Bergen in Norway. The overall approach of the programme is to search for areas where interactions between nature and society are assumed to be particularly strong.
In this particular study, the relationship between nature, water and society will be investigated by using Lake Victoria's Murchison Bay near Kampala in Uganda as a case study. One of the ways in which this relationship will be studied is to look at how society, through various economic and related activities, has affected the water resources in and around Murchison Bay. Factors governing the relationship between society and nature, the social relations which emerge out of water resource utilization and conservation, as well as the consequences of these relations, will be investigated.
The theoretical framework on which this study is built is that conflict arises when society members have to compete for a limited resource or have varied opinions on how the limited resource should be utilized. It has been observed that there are increasing demands on the natural resources because of population and other pressures (Barrow, 1999), and its only natural to expect that such demand will result in conflicts. In order to maintain harmony therefore, society is challenged to recognize such conflict as a warning of a looming crisis that ought to be averted.
Murchison Bay extends into a network of wetlands (also called swamps) that account for a large proportion of its water quality. These swamps have traditionally served the role of filtering the water that flows into the bay, and experiences from other places such as Calcutta in India have shown that the wetlands are used to purify waste water from the city (Davis, 1993). However, a variety of literature attests to the deteriorating relationship between society and Murchison bay, and Lake Victoria in general, and this is especially manifested by the high levels of pollution in the lake (Chege; 1995, NEMA). Most writers have laid the blame for this pollution squarely on society that has systematically encroached on the wetlands around the lake, and Murchison bay in particular.
That society has through various activities inflicted massive damage on Murchison bay is therefore a foregone conclusion, and this study will not engage debates about it. The focus will be put on the social dynamics that underscore the deteriorating relationship between society and the water resources, in the context of wetland utilisation.
Background
The Nature, Society and Water research programme, of which this study forms a part, brings together several researchers from several backgrounds, disciplines and countries to focus on the important questions relating to the interaction between man and his environment, with particular emphasis on water.
Fresh water is an extremely vital component in the development and health cycle of society. Historically, all societies have depended on the availability of fresh water for their survival and development. The sustainable management, development and utilisation of water resources are therefore an important factor in alleviating present and future human suffering. However, the management of water resources, as well as the management of the complex relationships that emerge from the utilisation of water and other natural resources for sustainable development, seems to be becoming an increasingly difficult concept (Ongley; 1996).
It is within this framework that this study of society's relationship with nature and water in Uganda has focused on Lake Victoria's Murchison Bay near the capital Kampala. Situated to the south-east of the city and covering approximately 60 km sq, Murchison bay is an extremely important feature of the ecosystem, as well as the development and health of the over one million people in its catchment area. It is not only a source of food, water, employment, transport and recreation, but is also now used as dumping 'ground' for various types of waste.
The network of wetlands into which the bay extends has traditionally played a part in its water quality. Although some people may see wetlands as unproductive and unhealthy, there is growing realization of their value, and various bodies such as governments and academicians have devoted considerable attention to them. There is a need to reach a better understanding not only of their biological importance, but also of their social, economic and cultural functions (Davis, op cit). Some of the important roles traditionally played by the wetlands of Murchison bay include:
They help filter the water that flows into the bay. The vegetation in the wetlands helps retain sediments and absorb harmful substances in the water that flows into the lake.
They serve as a store of water which can be used for a variety of purposes.
They contribute to agricultural production that may be practised along their banks.
Despite their importance however, the wetlands in Murchison bay have been encroached upon and utilised by society in such a way as to alter their normal and natural functions. The present status of much of the wetlands in the bay is such that a lot of them are no longer recognisable as such. They have been put to such use as residence, location of industry, extractive cottage industry such as brick making, dumping of waste and as channels for liquid waste.
The consequences of this encroachment on the water resources and on the ecological balance are fairly well documented. Writing about the state of Lake Victoria, Chege (1995) has observed that the once clear, life-filled lake is murky, smelly and choking with algae. She states that the ecological health of the lake has been affected profoundly as a result of the rapidly growing population, clearance of natural vegetation along the shores, and dumping of untreated effluent by several industries.
The high levels of pollution in Murchison bay ought to be of particular concern to the people of Kampala because the bay is the most important source of water for the city. However, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation not only draws water for the city from this bay, but also lets semi-treated sewage from the city into the lake at a point only four kilometres from the water intake!
The number of stakeholders in the use, management and development of water and water resources is wide and diverse. It includes the different users, commercial entities, fishermen, policy makers, planners, environmental conservationists as well as the civil society in general Frank Place (1999) has stated that key national and local stakeholders over water resources are found at various levels resulting in a lack of a common vision and goals for the role of biodiversity. Objective research therefore needs to be carried out to address the questions of how the variety of interests could be harmonised in order to facilitate the sustainable management, development and exploitation the water resources.
The historical, social and scientific aspects relating to water and water resource use in Murchison bay are therefore complex. This study however is concerned with the social issues which are expected to arise out of the inquiry into water and water resource utilization, and will centre on the utilisation of the wetlands.
The Problem
Although Lake Victoria's Murchison bay is an extremely important section of the lake for the people of Kampala, the network of wetlands that have traditionally served to filter water that flows into it are being depleted by society. This depletion is manifested by the high rate of encroachment on them for other economic and related purposes, at the expense of water quality, environmental and health concerns.
A conflict of interests therefore emerges between society's need to conserve the wetlands, and society's need to use them for mainly survival based purposes, such as agriculture and residential housing. In addition, conflict also arises between the various actors or stakeholders such as the actual users, the environmentalists, policy makers and planners.
Whereas the issue that seems to prevail and capture public and intellectual debate is the conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity of Murchison bay and water resources in general, this debate should no longer ignore the stark reality of society's need to otherwise utilize these resources.
There is a variety of literature that has documented the depletion of the wetlands and the effect of this depletion on the ecosystem. However, very little attention has been paid to the social dynamics that relate to the use of these wetlands, and much less so to the nature and implications of the conflictual relationships that arise out of wetland use.
On the international scene, it has been widely recognised that competition for and use of limited natural resources is a real cause of international and local conflict, sometimes culminating into actual aggressive confrontation (Ohlsson; 1999, Lidskog; 1998). However, very little recognition and use is made, in similar context, of the fact that conflict is a dynamic and functional phenomenon that need not be perceived only in negative and counter-productive terms. Hence the question: how can the conflict, real and potential, be put to positive use for the simultaneous benefit of Murchison bay and society?
An understanding of the nature of this conflict, which this study hopes to achieve, is important as one of the means to restore or reconstruct a new orderly relationship between society and water resources. It is a strategy that recognizes that much as society needs the wetlands for the ecosystem's stability, these wetlands have also come to serve other purposes which are difficult to reverse. A conflict theoretical perspective is therefore used to address these issues.
Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between society and nature, with particular reference to the use of wetlands around Murchison bay, and the relationships that emerge from the use of the wetlands, with a view to exploring ways in which the various interest groups and needs can co-exist so as to ensure the continued sustainability of these water resources.
Specific Objectives
In order to pursue and achieve the broad objective, the following specific objectives have been selected to give direction to the study. ·
· To study the historical evolution of the wetland use, in Murchison bay in particular, in order to give context and background to the study. ·
· To investigate the socio-economic factors that contribute to the use of/encroachment on wetlands. It is anticipated that an investigation of these factors will inform the study on the specific vested interests of the various users in the wetlands, and also contribute to the formulation of suggestions for the way forward. ·
· To describe the nature of present day use of the wetlands around Kampala. This will help guide the study on the hierarchy of use and users. ·
· To investigate the type of relations that emerge between the different users of the wetlands. This is expected to inform the study on possible forms of cooperation between the different users, and the possibility of harmonizing their interests. ·
· To investigate the relationships that exist between the users and the policy makers. This will help to establish the possible areas of conflict and the areas of cooperation between these two interest groups.
· To establish the measures currently in place to regulate the use of wetlands.
· To make recommendations on how the various interests and ideologies, held by different stakeholders over the wetlands, could be harmonized for the sustainability of Murchison bay.
Significance of the Study
The study takes place at a time when environmental concerns reign high amidst, and quite often in conflict with, a dire need in society, worldwide, for survival or a more comfortable life.
In Uganda, environmental and health concerns have drawn attention, expressed through various fora, of policy makers, planners, health workers academics and others to the deteriorating state of Murchison bay, which is almost entirely due to human activity.
This study seeks to make a contribution to the society versus nature (water resource) debate, by exploring avenues in which both society and nature can be winners, and hence promote the harmonious co-existence of both.
Time Frame
It is hoped that the study will take three year, beginning September 2000 and divided into three phases as follows:
1. One year of literature review and development of research instruments
2. One year of fieldwork
3. One year of report writing
Methodology
The study of the factors relating to the utilization of the wetlands around Kampala as it concerns the ecosystem and biodiversity of Lake Victoria's Murchison bay shall require a multi-pronged approach because of the diverse nature of the issues that do arise. There are a variety of stakeholders in the use and concern for the wetlands, and therefore information will have to be gathered from a variety of sources and in a variety of ways that will include: ·
· Review of literature available to the researcher on the subject
· Interviews and discussions with various stakeholders and researchers ·
· Questionnaire surveys ·
· Field observations
Secondary information
Secondary information will be gathered from the available literature in both Uganda and Norway. In Uganda, emphasis will be placed on literature that relates to the historical and contemporary issues such as conservation, pollution and policy relating to the wetlands. This literature is expected to be available in the archives of such organizations as:
· Makerere University Kampala
· National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
· Kampala City Council (KCC)
· Ministry of Lands, Water and Natural Resources
· Directorate of Water Development (DWD)
· National Water and Sewerage Corporation
· Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
· Uganda Investment Authority
In Norway, literature available at or through the University of Bergen will be extensively used. Internet searches will also be used to supplement the available literature.
Primary data
Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, primary data will be collected from the following types of stakeholders in various sites that have still be identified:
· Individuals who have residential property in the wetlands
· Individuals who use the wetlands for agriculture.
· Individuals who have/run small and semi-permanent cottage industries such as brick making, wood-working, etc.
· Individuals who hold freehold title to sections of wetlands
· Large-scale industrialists
· Relevant officers in the organizations targeted for secondary information collection mentioned above.
· Other researchers on the Nature, Society and Water research programme in Uganda and Norway.
Data analysis
It is expected that primary data will be analysed using the S.P.S.S and Ep Info computer data analysis programmes.
Theoretical context
The central theme of this study is the nature of the relationship between society and water resources, and the social relations that consequently emerge from it, with a focus on the wetlands and waters of Murchison bay in Uganda.
The study is guided by the conflict theoretical perspective, which basically is concerned about the organization of society, the behaviour of people and groups, and explains why structures take the forms that they do at various historical times, and how and what sort of changes occur (Ritzer, 1990). In a narrower sense, conflict theory can be conceptualized in a functionalist manner, by focusing largely on the consequences of conflict in a social system. Arguments abound that the control of resources is a highly probable cause of conflict in society. Individuals or groups that exercise or have greater access to the use or control of resources are in a privileged position, whereas those who do not have such control are in the opposite position. In the context of access, utilization and control of the wetlands in Murchison bay, it is assumed that the variety and diversity of users and interests is a potential cause of conflictual relations in society, and the challenge is to find out the extent and nature of this conflict and use it to restore or reconstruct a new orderly relationship.
Many activities and actors are entangled in the wetland and water resource question. A variety of individuals and groups therefore relate to the wetlands in Murchison bay in different ways, and at different levels. On the other hand, every member of society directly or indirectly relates with the wetlands because of the diverse nature of their functions.
What then are the consequences and implications of these relationships? Some people practice agriculture in the wetlands, others have commercial interests such as big and small industry, others have taken up residence, and others use them as dumping grounds for waste. How can all these interests be harmoniously accommodated in a wetland system that should ideally be free of all of them?
Social change is driven especially by conflict (Giddens; 1987 ), and it's only rational to think that the conflict that arises in the use of wetlands could be a basis for change. In a functionalist analysis, this conflict would be a sign that order is giving way to disorder, and that a new order needs to be established; a new order that will take account of the new circumstances.
At another level of abstraction, conflict theorists hold the general view that where some kind of resource becomes available, it will further the interests of some actors, who will use it to develop a form of stratification (Wallace and Wolf; 1980). The kind and degree of control, access and use of the resources fosters inequality among the stakeholders, hence a form of stratification.
One may therefore be tempted to think that a form of stratification could be in the making based on the control, access and use of the wetlands in Murchison bay. The multiplicity of stakeholders in this resource is such that certain interest groups are likely to, deliberately or otherwise, play a more domineering role in or towards its exploitation.
At the level of ideology, certain ideologies are more likely to take precedence and therefore dominate others over the wetlands, depending on the powers behind them. For example, there are basic survival ideologies by which some people use the wetlands for bare survival, environmental ideologies by which some people perceive the wetlands as an environmental resource, health ideologies by which some see the wetlands as a source of clean water, and private commercial/profit ideologies by which industrialists see the wetlands as convenient locations. These are but a few examples of groups of ideologies, though they may not be so clearly dichotomised in real life. However, there is clearly a sense in which certain ideologies may dominate or be subdued by others, and thereby manifest conflict.
An analysis of the relationship between nature, society and water in the context of the utilization of the wetlands in Murchison bay would therefore be immensely enriched when placed in conflict theoretical framework. An understanding of the relationships that emerge from the use and conquest of the wetlands would go a long way in creating avenues for the restoration of an orderly balance between nature, society and water. What, then, are the various dimensions of this conflict, and what are its implications for Murchison bay?
References
Barrow, Edmund (1999): Drylands - Whose Biodiversity? Whose to Use? And Whose to Conserve? Challenging Received Wisdom in A Report on Regional Workshop on Mainstreaming Agriculture into Forestry. ICRAF, Nairobi, Nov 1999.
Chege, Nancy (1995): Lake Victoria, a Sick Giant; People on the Planet
Davis T. J. Ed. (1993): Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands: Report of the Wise Use Project, The Ramsar Convention Bureau, Gland - Switzerland.
Giddens, A and Turner J. H. (1987): Social Theory Today, Polity Press, Cambridge
Lidskog, R. (1998): Social Aspects of the Siting of Facilities for Hazardous Waste Management in Waste Management and Research, Vol 16, 1998
NEMA: The National Environmental Action Plan for Uganda
Ohlsson, Leif, (1999): Environment Scarcity and Conflict; A Study of Malthusian Concerns; Department of Peace and Development Research, Sweden
Ongley Edwin, (1996): Control of Water Pollution from Agriculture, FAO, Rome
Place, Frank, (1999): Agriculture and Forestry Interaction: The Importance of Population Pressure and Property Rights in A Report on Regional Workshop on Mainstreaming Agriculture into Forestry. ICRAF, Nairobi, Nov 1999
Ritzer, George (1990): Frontiers of Social Theory: The New Syntheses, Colombia University Press, New York
Wallace A. R and Wolf Allison (1980): Contemporary Sociological Theory, Prentice Hall, New Jersey
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