River Khamitsaru Degradation: A Threat to Food Security and Ecosystem Resilience

Strategic Insights -

The riverbank of River Khamitsaru, which originates from Mt Elgon, has been degraded over 20 years due to illegal sand mining and poor farming practices. The river flows through four districts in Uganda and empties into River Mpologoma in Kibuku district. The degradation has led to the creation of deep gullies and islands in the middle of the river, causing it to widen in some areas. In response, the Mt. Elgon Project and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have earmarked 38 sub-counties with high levels of degradation in nine districts for restoration. The Mt Elgon Integrated Conservation and Development Project (MEICDP) aims to enhance conservation of ecosystems in the Mt Elgon region, focusing on sustainable rural livelihoods and food security.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 20 years, the riverbank of River Khamitsaru has been degraded due to illegal sand mining and poor farming practices.
  • The degradation has led to the creation of deep gullies and islands in the middle of the river, causing it to widen in some areas.
  • The Mt. Elgon Project and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have earmarked 38 sub-counties with high levels of degradation in nine districts for restoration.
  • The Mt Elgon Integrated Conservation and Development Project (MEICDP) aims to enhance conservation of ecosystems in the Mt Elgon region, focusing on sustainable rural livelihoods and food security.
  • The project will restore over 20,000 hectares of degraded ecosystems and farmlands through reforestation and planting of bamboo trees along the riverbank.
  • The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has started the initiative by planting bamboo trees along the riverbank.
  • The people living in the vicinity of the river have planted crops on the riverbank, destroyed it, and engaged in sand mining, which weakens the riverbank.
  • Stakeholders believe that if the status quo does not change, the region might face food insecurity.
  • The population growth in the region has put pressure on the environment, and stakeholders believe that if the degradation continues, the region may face food insecurity.
  • The Mt Elgon project has trained communities near River Khamitsaru to ensure that the bamboo planted grows, and will be key in ensuring the trees grow.
  • Silting of the river is also a challenge the communities face, and stakeholders believe that this will continue if the communities do not embrace tree planting.
  • The Mt Elgon project has started the initiative by planting bamboo trees along the riverbank, and stakeholders believe that this will be key in preventing further degradation.

Statistics:

  • Over 20 years, the riverbank of River Khamitsaru has been degraded due to illegal sand mining and poor farming practices.
  • The Mt. Elgon Project and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have earmarked 38 sub-counties with high levels of degradation in nine districts for restoration.
  • The project will restore over 20,000 hectares of degraded ecosystems and farmlands through reforestation.
  • The population in Uganda grew by 11.3% over the last ten years, according to the 2022 population census.

Sources:

  • National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
  • Mt. Elgon Project
  • The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE)
  • Uganda's population census (2022)
  • River Sand Mining: Effects on the Biological Environment (2016)