Impact of Artisanal Gold Mining on Wetland Health in Buhweju District, Southwestern Uganda

Wetland degradation due to anthropogenic activities including artisanal gold mining is widely common in Uganda, and this affects vegetation health status if not controlled. However, the use of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) determine wetlands rare. In study, remote sensing techniques with spatial-temporal were used for Bitsya Subcounty, Buhweju district (noted mercury) wetland period between 2012-2021. This was purposes identifying target areas intervention developing appropriate, location-specific options. 7 images 30 * m 3 10 respectively, ortho-rectified, cloud-free Landsat Sentinel obtained from USGS archive analysed. The results showed that high NDVI value (0.775) detected year 2019 low (0.068) 2017. maps values mostly middle where taking place, indicating a huge decline as compared other edges noticed NDVI. study suggest policies area could be effectively implemented reduces status, threatening functionality well loss free natural goods services derived them. necessitates development restoration campaigns. failure implement may have an ecosystem impact on micro macro-organisms, soil nutrients, water quality