Brick making destroys wetlands
Dec 05, 2004
THE once green valley has been stripped bare. Pools of muddy water, bare soil and tree stumps dot the area. With every rising of the hoe, more and more clay is dug up sealing the fate of Namulanda swamp in Seeta, Mukono.
By Barbara Ajilong
THE once green valley has been stripped bare. Pools of muddy water, bare soil and tree stumps dot the area. With every rising of the hoe, more and more clay is dug up sealing the fate of Namulanda swamp in Seeta, Mukono.
This is just one of the brick making sites strewn across the valley surrounding the Namanve industrial park.
Mukono district environment officer, Solomon Musoke, says the area comprises a very important wetland system that includes Nakiyanja, Njogezi and Lwajilu wetlands.
“There are over 10,000 brick makers in this area and they are destroying wetlands that are important to the district’s drainage system,†he says.
According to Twaha Senyange, a brick maker, the rise in the construction of houses in the city has seen an increase in the demand of bricks explaining the flourish in the enterprise.
To make room for the lucrative activity however, trees have been cut down, soils dug up and the general beauty of the landscape distorted.
“We are in the process of drafting guidelines to monitor these activities. However, these people are hard to monitor because they are strewn all over the place and are not a registered association,†says Norah Namakambo, a senior wetlands inspector with the wetlands inspections division.
She says brick making affects the environment through clay extraction, dust from material handling and processing and gas emissions from fuel combustion.
Musoke however says they are encouraging the brick makers to form associations to manage the wetlands better.
Firewood is the most common source of fuel for most of these small-scale brick making enterprises and to do this, trees are cleared.
David Nsimbe, also a brick maker, claims that about sh200,000 worth of firewood is needed to burn 6000 bricks. That equals to a truckload of wood. They depend entirely on natural forests.
Clay exhaustion is another major problem that is facing these wetlands. Maintenance is left entirely to the brick makers.
Twaha’s response makes the picture very clear. “There are so many swamps all over the country, so we cannot fail to find where to go; all we have to do is pack up and leave as soon as the clay here is exhausted,†he said.
These swamps are also habitats and sanctuaries for monkeys and reptiles. However the constant clearing and digging up has destroyed the habitat for these animals. The open pits pose a great threat to children who have broken their limbs while playing in the swamp. Malaria is also on the rise because of the suitable breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Ends
THE once green valley has been stripped bare. Pools of muddy water, bare soil and tree stumps dot the area. With every rising of the hoe, more and more clay is dug up sealing the fate of Namulanda swamp in Seeta, Mukono.
This is just one of the brick making sites strewn across the valley surrounding the Namanve industrial park.
Mukono district environment officer, Solomon Musoke, says the area comprises a very important wetland system that includes Nakiyanja, Njogezi and Lwajilu wetlands.
“There are over 10,000 brick makers in this area and they are destroying wetlands that are important to the district’s drainage system,†he says.
According to Twaha Senyange, a brick maker, the rise in the construction of houses in the city has seen an increase in the demand of bricks explaining the flourish in the enterprise.
To make room for the lucrative activity however, trees have been cut down, soils dug up and the general beauty of the landscape distorted.
“We are in the process of drafting guidelines to monitor these activities. However, these people are hard to monitor because they are strewn all over the place and are not a registered association,†says Norah Namakambo, a senior wetlands inspector with the wetlands inspections division.
She says brick making affects the environment through clay extraction, dust from material handling and processing and gas emissions from fuel combustion.
Musoke however says they are encouraging the brick makers to form associations to manage the wetlands better.
Firewood is the most common source of fuel for most of these small-scale brick making enterprises and to do this, trees are cleared.
David Nsimbe, also a brick maker, claims that about sh200,000 worth of firewood is needed to burn 6000 bricks. That equals to a truckload of wood. They depend entirely on natural forests.
Clay exhaustion is another major problem that is facing these wetlands. Maintenance is left entirely to the brick makers.
Twaha’s response makes the picture very clear. “There are so many swamps all over the country, so we cannot fail to find where to go; all we have to do is pack up and leave as soon as the clay here is exhausted,†he said.
These swamps are also habitats and sanctuaries for monkeys and reptiles. However the constant clearing and digging up has destroyed the habitat for these animals. The open pits pose a great threat to children who have broken their limbs while playing in the swamp. Malaria is also on the rise because of the suitable breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Ends