Abstract
IMPACT OF COPPER MINING STOCKPILES ON DIVERSITY OF PLANTS, SOILS AND CYPERUS PAPYRUS OF KAHENDERO SWAMP, LAKE GEORGE, UGANDA

From the Kilembe copper mine stockpiles, leachates are continuously dispersed downstream mainly by water. The study was undertaken to determine the plant types and the concentrations of iron, copper, cobalt, Manganese, Zinc and Nickel in the soils and in Cyperus papyrus of Kahendero swamp where the leachates reach. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used. It was revealed that the mean quantities for most of the elements were higher in Kahendero swamp than in the control area; with significant differences in concentrations of Copper, Cobalt, Nickel and Zinc obtained for soils of the two swamps. Greater species richness was observed for the control area compared to the experimental one. The ratio of different species obtained were 41:12 respectively. Cyperus papyrus plants which are most dominant in these swamps had their biomass determined. It was established that there is a significant difference between the heights, culm girth and mean dry weights of C. papyrus found within these swamps, whereas the head size does not differ significantly. The concentrations of copper and cobalt in C. papyrus of the swamps were noted to be significantly different. Since both swamps are within Queen Elizabeth National Park, a protected area, and are subject to limited direct man’s influence, the cobalt sulphide tailings runoff seem to be the major cause of the difference in their metal levels. From the study, it is recommended that setting up of an industry to process the cobalt sulphide pilings would greatly improve the amenity of the area and also mitigate pollution escaping to the freshwaters of Lake George