Encroachment, sand mining, stone querying, pollution, and poor agricultural practices have severely reduced it’s flow. Silt and mud that fall into the river as a result of human activities blocks the river from flowing normally. During the dry season, the river waters change color while during the heavy rains, water overflows carrying garbage which includes among others empty plastic bottles that end up piling at different points on the river banks.

When the water levels go down, piles of cracked stones, excavated rocks are the silent proof of stone querying and sand mining activities that take place along the river banks causing silting that has eaten up the river. Unnecessary dumping of plastic materials and garbage has all reduced the volume of the water putting live of many people who depend on it.

According to residents of Karangura sub county where the river has its source, stone querying
has been their source livelihood for many years. However, this is not the only main activity in the area that is threatening the river banks, washing bays have also been constructed near the river banks as opposed to 100meter distance which also costs lives of people depending on the river. Pollution of river Mpanga has also put a heavy cost burden on  National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) as the cost of treating the water has increased. NWSC Fort Portal area depends solely on River Mpanga for water supply to Fort Portal city and Kabarole district.

According to John Paul Onencan, the senior quality control at NWSC Fort Portal area, human
activities have affected the quality of water in river Mpanga which has also increased the cost of
water treatment. He said when water is dirty; they have to use a lot of chemicals in order to purify it.

” About 15 years ago, we would used about Ugx shs 4 million  on chemicals to treat the water per month but due to pollution of the river, we now use between Ugx shs 20million to shs 6o million  per month on chemicals alone” he said.

Interventions

Onencan said as NWSC Fort Portal area, they launched a campaign dubbed ”plant a million
trees”, where they give out tree seedlings to schools and communities around river Mpanga.

Fred Muhanuuzi, the Kabarole district environment officer said they have had some engagements about protecting river Mpanga and it’s tributaries and have a management plan and
also do monitoring and sensitize the masses. The Fort Portal central division mayor Richard Muhumuza said in the current financial year budget, the division has set aside Ugx shs 19millon to recruit river gangs to maintain the river banks and help on enforcement to arrest and report those encroaching and polluting the river.

“Our budget also caters for de-silting of the most affected parts of the river because it’s dying
rapidly and we need to act immediately. We have also passed a bylaw as central division that
whoever will be filmed or caught dumping empty bottles or garbage in the river will be fined Ugx shs
100,000 ” Muhumuza said.

According to the communication and advocacy officer Joint Effort to Save the Environment
(JESE), Christopher Tusiime, river Mpanga being a trans-boundary water resource, it needs to be
protected. Tusiime said JESE has given out indigenous fruit trees like oranges, mangoes, for people to plant in their homes as a source of income so that they can stop encroaching on the river banks.

” We have also supported communities with apiary as a source of livelihood, constructed cattle
troughs for grazing in the buffer zone to keep it protected and do awareness campaigns even
through radio talk shows on the need to protect the river and it’s tributaries,” he said.