The Uganda Atlas

NEMA 2008

Water transport at Port Bell on Lake Victoria. In the recent past, the port area has been infested with an algae bloom suspected to be a result of increased pollution from Kampala City in the immediate hinterland, through Nakivubo Channel, making the water dirty and smelly.

The drainage system of Uganda portrays a dense texture and is highly complex, especially in the western parts of the country. It is mainly influenced by landscape structure, as a result of the initial uplift of the African surface in this eastern part of the continent; and then the tectonic and volcanic activities that took place during the later geological times. As result of initial uplift of the African surface (plateau) the Uganda part of the plateau is thought to have experienced gradual tilt westwards. Consequently, most rivers were drained westwards into the River Congo in Central Africa. Later, with the formation of the uplifted shoulder of the Western Rift Valley, the rivers became reversed to flow along their courses into a down-warped axis to form lakes Victoria and Kyoga. Many rivers flow through valleys with an imperceptible break in swamps from which water flows out in each direction.

Many of the rivers, especially those of the west, flow sluggishly in unusually wide valleys. The rivers of eastern Uganda generally flow in the old courses and in their original direction. The rivers of the rift escarpment became rejuvenated along their lines and flow in their original direction. Another effect on drainage is the formation of mountains from which arise, a clear radial pattern of drainage systems. The mountains serve as an important water tower and perennial source of water for the surrounding areas and beyond. The combination of structure and rich drainage system has made Uganda’s rivers to possess high potential for hydro-electric power production, as most of them pass through a series of falls and rapids. This provides opportunities for environmental sustainability and development since hydro power is a clean and cheap energy. Additionally, it is a potential substitute to some of the fossil fuel and fuel-wood energy sources to meet needs in the country.

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