Uganda

Entry into force

4 July 1988

Ramsar sites

12

Surface area of

454.303
ha
Sites
View the Sites in the Ramsar Sites Information Service View an annotated summary of the Sites View statistics on the Sites
Documents
National reports(9)
Ramsar Advisory Missions(1)
World Wetlands Day reports(2)
Wise use resources(1)
National policies & strategies(1)
Speeches and presentations(1)
CEPA stories(2)
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Contact
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All sites in Uganda

Image gallery

Dr: Christopher Briggs Speaking to Representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JIICA) in Uganda about the Youth Photo contest organized as part of World Wetlands Day
Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Environment Uganda, welcomes Dr. Christopher Briggs, Ramsar Secretary General to Lutembe Bay, Ramsar Site of International Importance located on Lake Victoria.
Dr: Christopher Briggs speaking to Engineer Martin Orwint in charge of Lubigi sewage treatment plant
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Dr: Christopher Briggs Speaking to Representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JIICA) in Uganda about the Youth Photo contest organized as part of World Wetlands Day
Dr: Christopher Briggs Speaking to Representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JIICA) in Uganda about the Youth Photo contest organized as part of World Wetlands Day
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and it is located in the central region of the country. It has an area of about 238 square kilometers, a big part of which was once a wetland. Geographically Kampala is referred to as a city of seven hills separated by valleys with swamps and streams also called wetlands. Today the wetlands in this area is on the verge of extinction as they are being threatened by the increasing population in the city. Kampala's wetlands are mostly located on the shores thus their waters are collected and poured in the lakes like Victoria which is the largest in East Africa. What has remained of these places is the drainage channels which have diverted the flow of water out of these wetlands. The expansion of the city from its old self to the current location has greatly lead to the depletion of wetlands around it. Historically, Kampala's wetlands go back before 1900 when they belonged to the Kabaka (king) of Buganda.(Buganda was one of the ancient kingdoms in Uganda). Under the colonial rule, these wetlands were turned to the Queen of Britain in the name of crownland and were supervised by the colonial governors. No person during that time was allowed to encroach on these wetlands. With the exit of colonial masters after independence, these wetlands suffered from conflicts over their ownership. The cultural leaders and new politicians mismanaged these areas and the wetlands were destroyed totally. In Kampala, the city and its immediate environment is managed and administered by the City Council of Kampala. This government body has greatly fostered destruction of these treasured areas. The city council has neglected the laws set up to protect the wetlands. Under section 74 of the Public Health Act, one who interferes with the land around the city should be sued in court but, due to corruption, Kampala City Council has sold off these areas to "money hungry" people who have reclaimed these areas to an extent of extinction. The Government of Uganda has conflicting ideologies over environmental protection with respect to economic growth and so, no real supervision is done over the authorities in charge of wetland conservation. The call for modernisation of Kampala's areas and industrialization by politicians and other leaders today, we fear that Kampala's wetlands will not survive.
Nassanga Moureen
The site supports globally threatened species of birds, endangered Cichlid fish, and over 100 butterfly species, including three rare ones. It is a breeding ground for Clarias and lungfish, and regularly supports more than 52% of the White-winged Black Terns (Chlidonias leucopterus) population.
Laura Máiz-Tomé
Nature Uganda
Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Environment Uganda, welcomes Dr. Christopher Briggs, Ramsar Secretary General to Lutembe Bay, Ramsar Site of International Importance located on Lake Victoria.
Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Environment Uganda, welcomes Dr. Christopher Briggs, Ramsar Secretary General to Lutembe Bay, Ramsar Site of International Importance located on Lake Victoria.
Lutembe Bay Ramsar Site is situated at the mouth of Lake Victoria's Murchison Bay, this shallow area is almost completely cut-off from the main body of Lake Victoria by a C. papyrus island.
Laura Máiz-Tomé
Laura Máiz-Tomé
Laura Máiz-Tomé
Dr: Christopher Briggs speaking to Engineer Martin Orwint in charge of Lubigi sewage treatment plant
Dr: Christopher Briggs speaking to Engineer Martin Orwint in charge of Lubigi sewage treatment plant
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and it is located in the central region of the country. It has an area of about 238 square kilometers, a big part of which was once a wetland. Geographically Kampala is referred to as a city of seven hills separated by valleys with swamps and streams also called wetlands. Today the wetlands in this area is on the verge of extinction as they are being threatened by the increasing population in the city.
Nassanga Moureen
The system plays an important hydrological role, with the swamps surrounding the Murchison Bay acting as natural filters for silt, sediments and excess nutrients in surface run-off, wastewaters from industries, and sewage from Kampala City.
Laura Máiz-Tomé
Laura Máiz-Tomé

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