The “Analysis of Land Use Change and Limnological Characteristics of the Ishasha River, Western Uganda (Ishasha LIL)” Project is a comprehensive scientific assessment of how long-term land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes influence the hydrological, physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the Ishasha River, a transboundary water system shared by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The river plays a vital role in domestic water supply, hydropower generation, food security, biodiversity conservation, and tourism, yet it has experienced sustained pressure from rapid population growth, deforestation, overgrazing, land fragmentation, and expanding agriculture.
Prior to this study, the Ishasha River remained scarcely studied, creating major gaps in understanding its water quality, ecological status, and hydrological dynamics. The Ishasha LIL Project addressed this gap through the first integrated, year-long limnological and land-use assessment of the river system, coupled with participatory river catchment monitoring. The study analysed 30 years of LULC change (1991–2020) using satellite imagery and GIS, evaluated spatio-temporal variations in water quality and discharge, and assessed phytoplankton and zooplankton communities as indicators of ecological productivity and river health.
Beyond scientific assessment, the project strengthened stakeholder and institutional capacity through training in Participatory River Catchment Monitoring (PRCM), producing a skilled network of local river monitors and a scalable river monitoring framework. The project generated detailed LULC time-series maps, comprehensive water quality and biological datasets, peer-reviewed scientific outputs, and technical recommendations to guide sustainable river catchment management and restoration.
The Ishasha LIL Project directly supports Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land), while aligning with Uganda Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan III (NDP III). By delivering the first ecological baseline for the Ishasha River, the project provides a strong scientific foundation for policy, conservation planning, and climate-resilient water resource management in the region.
