Uganda: Distribution of Selected Wetland Uses, 1997–2001

This map highlights four different uses—beekeeping, fishing, hunting, and cultivation—which occur in less than 50 percent of Uganda’s wetlands.

Beekeeping (which occurs in 11 percent of all wetlands) is a localized activity. It is concentrated in Nakaseke and Luwero Districts and in parts of Apac and Lira Districts. For the past seven years, beekeeping has spread more widely than shown in this map (which summarizes data from 1997–2001), mainly because of its commercial success (WMD, 2007).

Fishing (occurs in 35 percent of all wetlands) and cultivation of food and fiber (occurs in 37 percent of all wetlands) have very similar spatial patterns. They cluster within the triangle formed by the districts of Jinja, Kayunga, and Kamuli. Both uses are extensive activities in wetlands in Bushenyi and Ntungamo Districts in southwestern Uganda and in communities northeast of Lake Kyoga.

Hunting is more widespread (occurs in 42 percent of all wetlands) and spatially less concentrated than the other three uses. It occurs simultaneously with agriculture and fi shing (such as in Jinja, Kayunga, and Kamuli Districts), but is also highly concentrated in the seasonal wetlands around Lake Kyoga.

Sources: International boundaries (NIMA, 1997), district administrative boundaries (UBOS, 2006a), water bodies (NFA, 1996; NIMA, 1997; Brakenridge et al., 2006), and presence or absence of use (WID, 2006).