Effects Of Brick Making On The Environment: A case Study Of Kajjasi Town, Wakiso District, Central Uganda

ABSTRACT

. [)ricks hcl c been used l(n the last )()()()years. In Uganda. the practice ot' hrtck making is a long standing acti' ity. , inn-:stigation to asses the cf!Ccts or brick making on the cm·ironment was conducted in Kajjansi town. Wakiso district_ central Uganda. This \·as narrowed down to tackling the raw materials used. e!Tects of the activity to the cn,·ironment and the measures of reducing the effects. During the study a number of methods for obtaining ra\· data 1Cre used and included Obsen·ation. Questionnaire. interviews and Literature search. The study revealed the following: the raw materials used include. clay. water. 1ood husks. saw husks. oil. soil. glass, grass. money and labor. The products f'rom the industry arc blocks. max pans. ,-entilators. rooting tiles, pompy. and half bricks. !3oth gender take part in this acti,·ity. Although brick laying has induced cconomtc developmcnL however it has caused environmental deterioration, damage to human health, creation of basins that act as breeding ground for mosquitoes. shortage or raw materials. destruction of vegetation, impact on drainage, loss of biodiversity, loss of nutrients. pollution and scenery alteration. Measures to reduce the impacts were: no digging deep pits (basins). tilling up pits. sensitization, recycling damaged products, tree planting and need to use other sources or energy. Generally brick making has caused greater impact on the environment such as alteration of drainage systems , swamp destruction and dclorcstation. Therci(Jre this calls for government agencies ( Local orticials). NGOs and relevant stakeholders to ensure mitigation measures such as research , Inassi'C sensitization to reduce the impact l(lr sustainable development.