Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Population of East Africa

SUBJECT : GEOGRAPHY
TOPIC : POPULATION OF EAST AFRICA
SUB-TOPIC : 1) Population Concepts
2) Factors which influence population distribution in East Africa
3) Effects of the population distribution on the environment

CLASS : Senior Three

CLASS SIZE : 60
TIME REQUIRED: 160 – 240 minutes (i.e. 4 – 6 lessons)

Brief description
This unit addresses the concepts of population; factors that influence population density, population distribution and how these affect the environment of East Africa.
Main Content and Concepts to Emphasise
- Meaning of population concepts in the following terms;
        • Population
        • Population size
        • Population census
        • Population distribution
        • Population density
        • Under population
        • Over population
        • Optimum population
        • Population pyramid

- A Map of East Africa showing population distribution.
- Factors which influence population distribution e.g. physical and human factors.

- Case study: - Highland areas, the Lake Victoria region, urban areas and arid areas.

- The positive and negative effects of population distribution on the environment
- Solutions to the problems that affect the environment.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the topic students should be able to;
  1. Define the concepts related to population.
  2. State the importance of collecting information and data on human population.
  3. Study and interpret the population statistical data.
  4. Develop skills of how to collect and interpret data.
  5. Explain the factors that influence population distribution or density in East Africa.
  6. Identify the problems associated with certain patterns of population distribution.
  7. Suggest possible solutions to the problems brought about by the different population patterns.

Teaching and Learning materials


  • Text books

  • Statistics

  • Graphs

  • Diagrams

  • Photographs

  • Case studies

Job related life skills
By the end of this topic, learners are expected to have acquired the following Job Mart related Skills:
  1. Personal attributes – self confidence, time management, creativity/imaginative, recording skills, enthusiasm, imagination, seek advice and self awareness.

  1. Communication – observation & listening skills, reporting in writing, ability to read and know how to apply general and specialised vocabulary.

  1. Team work – task oriented leadership skills, group work and decision making.

  1. Problem solving - information seeking, environmental protection & conservation, seeking for information (research).

  1. Application of number – ability to work with and present numerical data and using appropriate intermediate calculations (as they try to find out/calculate the population sizes of different areas, birth rates, death rates, fertility rate, infant mortality rate, population growth rate and or try to compare population sizes of various places and years).
  2. Information Skills – ability to identify needs, observe and collect evidence and present findings appropriately using graphs, sketch maps, pictures and reports

MAIN CONCEPTS

  1. POPULATION SIZE

TABLE 1A SHOWS THE POPULATION SIZE OF EACH EAST AFRICAN COUNTRY
COUNTRY
POPULATION (Est.2008)
Uganda
31,367,972
Kenya
37,958,838
Tanzania
40,213,612
Total
109,540,422






Population size refers to the number of people living in the place at a particular time.

2) POPULATION DENSITY


Population density describes the number of people per square kilometre of land area.
It is calculated as;
PD = POPULATION (P)
AREA (A)
ACTIVITY 1 Warm up / Brain Storming
Task the learners to brainstorm on the following terms
  • Population
  • Population census
  • Population distribution
  • Population density
  • Under population
  • Over population
  • Birth rate
  • Growth rate
  • Death rate

TABLE 1 B: POPULATION DENSITY OF EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Country
Total area km2
Total Population 2008
Population density
Uganda
244,400
31,367,972
?
Kenya
585,000
37,958,838
?
Tanzania
943,000
40,212,612
?
Total
1772,400
?
?





Source: Population Reference bureau (2006)


ACTIVITY 2

In groups of 5 – 8, study the Table 1B above and answer the following questions

  1. Which of East African country has the;
  1. Largest population
  2. Least population

  1. Calculate the population size of East Africa

  1. How is high population an advantage to any one country of East Africa?

  1. What are disadvantages of high population size to any one country of east Africa?

  1. To which extent may low population be of advantage to your country?


ACTIVITY 3

Given the formula:

Population Density = Total Population
Area
  1. Use Table 1b above to calculate the population density of
  1. Uganda
  2. Kenya
  3. Tanzania

  1. Which of the three countries has the
  1. Lowest population density?
  2. Highest population density?

  1. What could be the major cause of the differences in the population densities?


ACTIVITY 4

Study the sketch map below showing the population distribution of East Africa and answer the following questions.




This would also be considered a group task

  1. Using the sketch map provided above, which areas of East Africa are:
  1. Densely populated
  2. Sparsely populated

  1. Why do you think that these areas are;
  1. Densely populated?
  2. Sparsely populated?

  1. What challenges do the people living in the mentioned areas in question (b) above face?

  1. Suppose you are a population officer, suggest ways in which you would overcome those challenges.

ACTIVITY 5

Study Table 2 below showing population figures in Uganda between 1990 –2001 and answer the questions below.

YEAR
POPULATION (000)
  1. -1991
16.000
1992 - 1993
16.500
1994 - 1995
17,000
1996 - 1997
18,000
1998 - 1999
19,500
2000 - 2001
23,000

(i) Draw a line graph to show the above information.
(ii) Describe the trend of population growth in Uganda between 1990 to 2001.
(iii) State the causes for the increase in population between 1990 –2001.

BIRTH RATE
Birth rate indicates the number of births per one thousand people in a given area,
BR = Number of birth X 1000
Total population

ACTIVITY 6 Field Study


You may organise the learners into groups of 5-8 and ask them to visit 3 neighbouring homesteads (families) of their choice near their school, to find out the following;


  1. How many family members are there in each homestead?
  2. What is the size of the homestead?
  3. What is the occupation of the family head?
  4. How many biological children (offsprings) are there in each homesteads?
  5. What are the age groups of these children? (i.e. 0 – 4, 5 – 10 and above years)?
  6. How many non-biological children are there in each homestead?
  7. Do these families use family planning methods?
  1. If YES, what are its effects?
  2. If NO, why?
  1. About how many girls in each family give birth after marriage?
  2. On average, how many girls give birth before their 19th birthday?
  3. What is the importance of a large family?
  4. Why do you think a large family may not be good?

NOTE
Ensure that learners take notes of their findings, and each group should have a chairman to take up the leadership role and a secretary who would be recording the findings.
Each group in a form of guided discussion with the teacher would make a presentation to their classmates.

FERTILITY RATE
It refers to the average number of children a woman can bear in the production period normally between 15 – 45 years of age.
FR = Total number of children born X 1000
Total number of women in reproduction age
DEATH RATE
ACTIVITY 7 Brain Storming
  1. What is death rate?
  2. What causes a high death rate?
  3. How can death rate be controlled in East Africa?

This is the number of people that die in a year per thousand of total population.
DR = Number of death X 1000
Total population
The death rate in East Africa has been minimised through the fight against the killer diseases in children. This has been realised through the programme of immunisation.
The death rate (crude death rate) is generally high in East Africa. It ranges between 10-15. This means that there are about 10-15 people who die from a sample of 1000 people.
INFANT MORTALITY RATE
Infant mortality rate refers to death of children under the age of one year per 1000 births. It is measured as follows:
IMR = Number of death of children under one year x 1000
Live birth per year
In East Africa infant mortality has been controlled through the programme of immunisation.

ACTIVITY 8
Ask learners to visit a nearby hospital or, invite a resource person (medical personnel) to your class to make a presentation about the following;
  1. What is infant mortality?
  2. What are the causes of infant mortality? (Emphasise the six killer diseases for infants)
  3. What measures have been taken to control infant mortality in your home area?
  4. What is antenatal care and why is it important for expecting mothers?
  5. What is immunisation and why is it important?
  6. How would we encourage the community to respond to it?
  7. Suppose you are a medical officer, how would you advise the community about the importance of child health care?

NOTE
Ensure that learners note down the pertinent issues raised by the resource person, and freely interact with him/her in form of question and answer.

CAUSES OF INFANT DEATHS

  • Infectious diseases for example pneumonia, tetanus and polio.

  • Domestic violence.

  • Infanticide; the deliberate killing of infants is extremely difficult to document.

POPULATION GROWTH RATE
Population Growth rate refers to the rate at which population changes by increasing in size. It is calculated as Birth rate – Death rate divide by 1000 X 100. Birth rate should always be higher than death rate in order for a population to increase.
Population growth rate (PGR) = Birth rate – Death rate X 100
1000

For example, assessing the birth rate of Tanzania to be 48% per annum and its death rate 12% per annum, calculate the population growth rate?
PGR = 48 – 12 X 100 = 3.6%
1000

FACTORS WHICH LEAD TO HIGH POPULATION GROWTH RATE IN EAST AFRICA

  • Early marriages

  • High fertility rates

  • Polygamy

  • Low levels of education

  • Lack of family planning facilities

  • Excessive birth rates over death rate

  • Declining death rate due to improved medical facilities

  • Rural – urban population

  • The value the parents attach to their children

  • Level of income



POPULATION CHANGE
Refers to a situation where population can either increase or decrease.
CENSUS
ACTIVITY 9
  1. What is population census?

  1. Have you ever participated in population census?

  1. If so, what questions were you asked?

  1. What is the importance of carrying out a population census?

  1. What are the attitudes of people towards population census exercises?

Census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official counting of a particular population.
POPULATION CENSUS
This is the counting of people in a given area.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CARRYING OUT CENSUS
To establish the number of people in the country in terms of Age, Sex distribution, level of education and standards of living.

To enable the government distribute the resources according to the prevailing population in the area. I.e. government plans on how to adequately allocate the resources.

To find out the relationship between the prevailing population and their conditions of living for example housing facilities, levels of income, levels of employment.

To help the government design a sound policy on population; in terms of birth rates, migration and distribution of resources.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR CARRYING OUT A POPULATION CENSUS
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Level of education
  • Occupation
  • Standards of living
  • Mode of transport
  • Etc.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Life expectancy is the average age at which people die. Life expectancy is very low in the developing countries and high in the developed countries.

  1. OPTIMUM POPULATION

Optimum population refers to a situation where the number of people is in balance with the available resources. This means that;

  • Optimum conditions can only be maintained if the exploitation of new resources and development of employment opportunities keeps at pace with the increasing rate of population.

  • The size, distribution and structure of the population within a country must be viewed in relation to its natural resources.

  • If the country’s resources are not adequately supporting its population, then people are likely to be poor, dependant and hungry. A higher rate of unemployment is also an indicator.


Where a country has gone beyond the optimum population level, there is likely to be a problem of over population.
OVER POPULATION
Overpopulation refers to a situation where a country’s resources are not adequate to provide the necessary means of survival to its people. The resources are over utilised in order for the people to survive.
POPULATION MIGRATION

In East Africa people are always moving from time to time. This affects the nature of the population distribution. There are a number of factors why people migrate. These include;

  • Economic reasons
  • Political reasons
  • Cultural reasons
  • Social reasons

Migration can be for a short or long time. It can be internal, external or international.
REASONS FOR MIGRATION
  • Unemployed people move from the rural to the urban centres in search for employment opportunities.
  • Cultivators migrate in search of good land for farming (agricultural) purpose.
  • Traders move in search of trade opportunities.
  • In northern Uganda people are frequently moving because of political instabilities.
FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IN EAST AFRICA

Population distribution in an area is influenced by a number of factors. These include physical, human and biotic factors;
The physical factors that influence population distribution are:
  • Favourable climate
  • Fertile soils
  • Favourable relief
  • Nature of vegetation
  • Availability of water
  • Existence of mineral resources
  • Pests and diseases
Human factors which influence population distribution include:
  • Development of urban areas (growth of town)
  • Historical factors
  • Improved transport network
  • Mining activities
  • Slave trade
  • Farming
  • Establishment of industries
  • Influence of government policy
  • Influence of modern technology

In East Africa, the most densely populated regions are:
  • The lakeshore regions of Victoria (Buganda, Busoga , Nyanza province , Mwanza and Bukoba)
  • The Highland areas (Kigezi , Kenya Highlands ,Elgon slopes and Rwenzori area)
  • Leading urban environment (Kampala , Nairobi ,Dar es salaam , Mombasa, Kisumu ,Nakuru , Eldoret ,Dodoma ,Masaka ,Jinja ,Mbarara and Kabale)
  • The coastal areas of East Africa especially around the major towns like Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mombasa and Malindi.
  • The islands of Zanzibar and Pemba.
In East Africa, regions which are most sparsely populated are:
  • North East Kenya.
  • North western Kenya or Turkana.
  • Central Tanzania (Miombo woodland).
  • North Eastern Uganda (Karamonja).
  • Ankole –Masaka corridor.
  • Northern Uganda (Kitgum ,Pader district).
  • Western Kenya.

The moderately populated areas of East Africa are:
  • Western Uganda
  • West Nile region of Uganda
  • South east Tanzania
  • Southern Tanzania

ACTIVITY 10
Invite a resource person (Population officer) to make a presentation to the class on “The challenges of densely populated areas in East Africa (Uganda) and the opportunities embedded in such challenges.”
NOTE
Ensure that this discussion is interactive and the learners should take notes of key issues.

FACTORS WHICH FAVOUR DENSE POPULATION IN AN AREA
  1. Favourable Climate; Areas which are densely populated tend to receive reliable heavy rainfall which is distributed throughout the year. Heavy rainfall total supports the growing of crops.

  1. These regions have fertile loam, alluvial and volcanic soils especially around Lake Victoria and the highland areas such as Kigezi, mountain Elgon and on the slopes of Kilimanjaro.

  1. A good transport network serves the region. This facilitates large-scale population mobility and marketing of agricultural produce.

  1. Urban development; these areas offer well developed and improved social facilities like clean water, electricity, better housing and a number of recreational facilities. Towns also offer better paying jobs that attract the youth.
  2. Security; Areas free from political instability and theft tend to have a dense population.

  1. The relief of an area influences population settlement. People will settle on gently sloping land for easy construction and avoid low-lying areas which can easily be flooded and steep/rugged terrain because they are inaccessible.

  1. Diseases and pests: There is a population increase in areas without pests and diseases e.g. the Kenya highlands and avoid low lying areas which can be easily flooded and steep / rugged terrains, because they are inaccessible.

WAYS OF REDUCING THE POPULATION GROWTH RATE IN EAST AFRICA
  • Use of birth control methods
  • Education

FACTORS THAT HAVE LED TO SPARSE POPULATION
  • Occurrence of pests and diseases e.g. Tsetse flies in Ssese islands, miobo woodland etc.

  • Low and unreliable rainfall in North Eastern Kenya, North Eastern Uganda and Central Tanzania cannot support agriculture and can only attract a very small population particularly pastoralists.

  • Absence of economic factors like industries.

  • The government has gazetted certain areas such as forests and game reserves. In such areas it is illegal to settle there. These include Kidepo valley and Serengeti national parks. It is also illegal to settle in forests like Mabira, Budongo,Lugari, Nyeri, Kitare etc.

  • Infertile soils which cannot support agriculture

  • Historical factors including slave trade and kingdom wars also created areas of sparse population. Slave raids depopulated Central Tanzania and the highlands of Southern Tanzania. In Uganda, Mubende was a battle ground between Bunyoro and Buganda kingdoms and therefore depopulated.

  • Poor drainage regions such as Northern Kenya and North Eastern Uganda cannot support agriculture and are therefore abandoned. In such areas ground water is scarce. On the other hand, areas that are water logged such as swamps are also avoided. The Mangroove swamps along the coast were avoided because these areas are salty and agriculturally unproductive. Besides they form breeding grounds for mosquitoes which transmit malaria.

  • Remoteness due to a poor transport and communication network.

  • Political instability.

ACTIVITY 11
Ask learners to carry out fieldwork within the school on the population in the school.
Objective
This activity is aimed at finding out:
  • The gender of the students in each class.
  • The number of teaching and non teaching staff in the school
  • The gender of the teaching and non-teaching staff.
  • The age of the learners in school.
Learners will be divided into groups to carry out data collection.
  • There will be a follow up where each group presents its findings.
  • Learners will then be asked to write a report about their findings.

WORKED OUT EXAMPLES

1. Table 3 below shows population figures in Uganda between1990 to 2001.
YEAR
POPULATION
1990
16,000
1992
16500
1994
17,000
1996
18,000
1998
19,000
2001
23,000











(a) Draw a line graph to show the above information.
(b) Describe the trend of population growth in the table.
(c) Explain the causes of an increase in the population.


ANSWERS
(a) A LINE GRAPH SHOWING POPULATION IN UGANDA BETWEEN 1990 and 2001
(b) The population of Uganda increased steadily from 16,000 in 1990 to 23,000 people in 2001.
(c) The causes of population increase in an area;
  • An increase in birth rate.
  • A decrease in the death rate.
  • A decrease in infant mortality rate.
  • Improvement in the health services.
  • An increase in the number of immigrants and refugees.
  • Reduction in wars.
  • A decrease in the number of immigrants.

SAMPLE QUESTION 2
(a) Draw a sketch map of East Africa and on it mark and name three areas with:
    1. High population density.
    2. Low population density.
(b) Explain the factors which have led to:
    1. High population density.
    2. Low population density in the areas named in (a) (i) and (ii) above.

(c) Identify the problems facing the people living in:
  1. Densely populated area.
  2. Sparsely populated areas of East Africa.

(d) Outline the steps being taken to solve the problem identified in (c) above.

ANSWERS:
2(a) SKETCH MAP


i) Areas with high population density include:
  • Shores of Lake Victoria.
  • Kigezi highlands.
  • Kenya highlands.
  • Foothills of Kilimanjaro.
(ii) Areas with low population density include:-
  • Ankole- Masaka corridor
  • North Eastern Uganda (Moroto, Kotido).
  • Central Tanzania.
  • Rift valley region.
  • Northern Kenya.
  • Reserved regions (National parks, forests).


2(b) (i) The factors which have led to high population density are:
  • Employment opportunities in towns like Kampala, Nairobi, Tororo.
  • Mining activities e.g. at Shinyanga, Tororo, Mwadui, Hoima.
  • Heavy rainfall which attract farmers.
  • Gentle slopes which favour settlement.
  • Fertile soils suitable for agriculture.
  • Well-drained soils.
  • Polygamy.
  • Early marriages.
  • Security.
  • Low incidence of pests & diseases.
  • Urbanisation e.g. along the shores of Lake Victoria.

(iii) Factors which have led to low population density include:
  • Government policies that restrict settlement in gazetted areas like parks.
  • Unreliable rainfall in North Eastern Uganda.
  • Pests and Diseases e.g. tsetse flies in central Tanzania.
  • Effects of slave trade e.g. along E. African coast and central Tanzania.
  • Infertile soil that cannot support agriculture.
  • Political instabilities.
  • Remoteness due to poor transport & communication.
  • Limited underground water e.g in Northern Kenya.

(c) (i) Problems facing people living in densely populated areas:
  • Shortage of land.
  • Easy spread of diseases due to congestion.
  • Soil erosion.
  • Land degradation due to over cultivation.
  • Decline in food / agricultural productivity.
  • High crime rate e.g. robbery.
  • Strain on social services like hospitals, schools, roads, and electricity.
  • Unemployment.
  • Encroachment on forests and wetlands.
  • Water and air pollution.

(iii) Problems facing people living in sparsely populated areas of East Africa
  • Limited supply of labour.
  • Limited market for the agricultural goods.
  • Limited social infrastructure like roads, schools, hospital.
  • Food shortage due to low agricultural productivity.
  • Pests and diseases e.g. tsetse flies.
  • Cattle rustling amongst pastoralists.
  • Land degradation due to over grazing.

(d) (i) Steps that can be taken to solve the problems in densely populated areas are:-
  • Land consolidation.
  • Family planning control measures.
  • Soil conservation measures like terraces, mulching practised.
  • Evacuation of people from densely populated areas to resettlement schemes.
  • More social services like schools have been set up.
  • The masses have been sensitised about the dangers of a big population.
  • Strict laws have been set to control crime rates.
  • Housing schemes have been set up in towns like Kampala, Nairobi.

(ii) Steps taken to solve the problems in sparsely populated areas.
  • Valley dams and boreholes have been constructed to provide water.
  • Social services have been extended to sparsely populated areas.
  • Some sparsely populated areas have been gazetted into game parks.
  • Scientific methods of farming have been adopted e.g. ranching
  • Social services have been extended to sparsely populated areas such as education, health and recreation.

SAMPLE QUESTION 3


Study Table 4 and answer the questions that follow

Table showing population density in selected districts in Uganda


DISTRICTS
TOTAL LAND
AREA (KM)
POPULATION
(000)
POPULATION DENSITY

Mbale
2504
706.6
……….
Kotido
13,208
190.7
140.0
Kabale
1653
412.8
250.0
Rakai
3889
382.2
98.0
Gulu
11,560
338.7
……….

(a) (i) Calculate the population density:
- Mbale
- Gulu
(ii) Which district has the highest population density?
(iii) Which district has the lowest population density?
(b) State the factors responsible for the difference in population densities of Kabale and Rakai district.
(c) (i) Giving examples from East Africa, give the effects of high population density on the environment.
(ii) State three measures to ease the environmental problems in areas of high population density.

ANSWERS
2 a) (i) Mbale = 282.1 per km2
(ii) Gulu = 293.0 per Km2
(ii) District with highest population density is Kabale district.
(iii) District with lowest population density is Kotido district.
b) Factors responsible for the differences in population density between Kabale and Rakai districts.
  • Kabale has more social services like hospitals and schools than Rakai.
  • Kabale has more fertile soils (volcanic) for agriculture than in Rakai.
  • There are more employment opportunities in Kabale than in Rakai.
  • Kabale has a high birth rate than Rakai.
  • Kabale receives more rainfall than Rakai which favours agriculture.
  • Aids has reduced the population of Rakai compared to Kabale.

c) (i) The effects of high population density on the environment include;
  • Deforestation e.g. at Kabale and Mabira forest.
  • Swamp reclamation e.g. Nakawa, Bwaise and Nalukolongo in Kampala.
  • Development of slums e.g. Kisenyi in Kampala.
  • Over use of soil leading to land degradation e.g. in Kabale.
  • Pollution of water bodies and air industrial smoke.
  • Congestion leading to the spread of diseases like cholera.

ii) Measures taken to solve the above environmental problems include:
  • Eviction of encroachers from forest and wetland areas.
  • Public awareness campaigns
  • Population control methods i.e. family planning
  • Establishment of resettlement schemes.

References:
  • Young and Lowry (1985): A course in world geography, physical Regional and Human Geography of East – Africa.
  • Byamugisha Bweebare (2008): Physical and Human Geography of East Africa.


SAMPLE SCHEME OF WORK
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
NAME OF TEACHER………………………………………………….................................SCHOOL……..........................……………………………..
TERM…………....… CLASS…….....…… NO. OF PERIODS PER WEEK…………...………YEAR………........ NO. OF STUDENTS.....................








WEEK
PERIOD
TOPIC
SUB-TOPIC
OBJECTIVES
CONTENT
ACTIVITIES
REFERENCE
REMARKS


1


4
Population in East Africa








Population size and
related terms








By the end of the topic, learners should be able to explain:-
i. Explain the concept of population.
ii. The factors influencing population distribution in East Africa.
iii. The impact of population on the environment in East Africa.

The different terms of Population; -
- Meaning of the concept, Population size.

- Population distribution.

- Population density.

- Under population Overpopulation.

- Optimum population

- Population pyramid.
- Population census
- Brainstorming
- Discussions
- Demonstrations
- Field work




Population distribution in East Africa

By the end of this sub-topic, -
- Describe the factors influencing population distribution

i. Physical factors e.g.
  • Fertile soils
  • Climate
  • Relief
  • Drainage
  • Vegetation
  • Diseases
ii. Human factors e.g.
iii. Government policy.
  • Discussion on the factors of population distribution.

  • Study and discuss the population statistical data

  • Where applicable call a Resource person/district





2

4







Effects of population distribution in East Africa





By the end of this sub-topic, learners should be able to:-

- Explain the effects of population distribution (dense and sparse ) and suggest solutions to the problems

i. Distribution of industries
ii. Migration
iii. Historical factors
iv. Improvement of Transport
v. Effects of a Dense
Population e.g.
- Labour force
- Market
- High source of revenue for government.
vi. Negative Effects e.g.
- Over exploitation of
resources
- Over crowding
- Unemployment
- High crime rate
- Rapid spread of diseases.
- Pressure on social services.



vii. Positive effects of Sparse Population e.g.

- Minimal environment
degradation
- Low levels of utilization of resources.
viii. Negative Effects e.g.
- Inadequate market
- Low levels of investment
- Low level of infrastructure development
- Inadequate labour.

  • Invite a resource person (Population Officer) to talk to learners about the topic; - especially the causes of high population growth rate in East Africa
  • Discussions
  • Demonstrations
  • Field work
  • Demostrations by using the existing statistics (data).
  • Case studies on immigration in East Africa with emphasis on types of immigrants, cause, problems associated, with immigrants and solutions.




















GEOGRAPHY
SAMPLE LESSON PLAN
DATE
CLASS
SUBJECT
NO. OF STUDENTS
DURATION
TIME
../…./…..
S.3
GEOGRAPHY
60
80 MINS
8.00-9.20 am

TOPIC : POPULATION OF EAST AFRICA
SUB – TOPIC : - Population Concepts
  • Population density
  • Population distribution
  • Factors affecting population density / distribution
  • Problems and solutions associated with population.
Objectives By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
  1. Define population and its different concepts.
  2. Give reasons for the various population distribution patterns in East Africa.
  3. Explain the effects of the various population distribution patterns in East Africa.

Content
Describe population related terms
  • Population size
  • Population growth, birth rate
  • Fertility rate, death rate, infant mortality and structure
  • Population census

Teaching Aids
Secondary school Atlas (pg. 19)
Population maps
Text books (Young and Lowry)
Thumb pins
Wall maps
Photographs
Methods - Discussion
  • Questions leading to discovery
  • Demonstration

References

TIME
STEP
CONTENT
TEACHER’S ACTIVITY
LEARNERS’ ACTIVITY

10 minutes

1
Introduction Greetings
Roll call
Warm up exercise

Review of previous lesson
Greets the learners to bring class to order.
Roll calls
Gives warm up activity

Reviews previous lesson
Respond and sit down.

Respond


Listen.


10 minutes

2

Revision of previous work
Asks questions on the previous work covered.

Respond to questions

15 Minutes
III
Lesson development
Population in East Africa
e.g.
(i) Population census.
Why carry out population census?
-No. of people
-resource allocation
-etc
(ii) Birth rate:
Causes-
(iii) Death rate Causes
-(iv) growth rate Causes-

Helps the learners to find out the detailed information about each related term.
Listen
Answer the questions
15 Minutes
IV

Lesson development
Advantages and disadvantages of
High, low and sparse population
in E.A.
HIGH
Advantage
  • Labour force
  • Market
  • Political stability
  • Job availability
Leads discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of high and low population.
Listen and contribute to discussion
  • 80 Minutes


Leads the class to the factors affecting population distribution in E.A. e.g.
Climate
Soil
Relief
Drainage
Economic factors
Historical factors
Transport communication
  • Problems of population density
- Limited supply of labour force
- Limited market etc
Steps
- Low investment
- Low infrastructure
development
Learners state the factors affecting population distribution in East Africa.



SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. The table below shows population figures in Uganda between1990to 2001.

YEAR
POPULATION
1990
16,000
1992
16500
1994
17,000
1996
18,000
1998
19,000
2001
23,000


(a) Draw a line graph to show the above information.
(b) Describe the trend of population growth in the table.
(c) Explain the causes for an increase to the population.

ANSWERS:

(a) A LINE GRAPH SHOWING POPULATION IN UGANDA BETWEEN 1990 2001



(b) The population of Uganda increased steadily from 16,000 in 1990 to 23,000 people in 2001.
(c) The causes of population increase in an area;
  • An increase in birth rate
  • A decrease in the death rate
  • A decrease in infant mortality rate
  • Improvement in the health services
  • An increase in the number of immigrants and refugees.
  • Reduction in wars.
  • A decrease in the number of immigrants.


SAMPLE QUESTION 2

(a) Draw a sketch map of East Africa and on it mark and name three areas with:-
    1. High population density
    2. Low population density
(b) Explain the factors which have led to:-
    1. High population density
    2. Low population density in the areas named in (a) (i) and (ii) above.
(c) Identify the problems facing the people living in:
  1. Densely populated area
  2. Sparsely populated areas of East Africa.

(d) Outline the steps being taken to solve the problem identified in (c) above.

ANSWERS:

2(a) SKETCH MAP













(i) Areas with high population density include:
  • Shores of lake Victoria
  • Kigezi highlands
  • Kenya highlands
  • Foot hills of Kilimanjaro
(ii)Areas with low population density include:-
  • Ankole- Masaka corridor
  • North Eastern Uganda (Moroto, Kotido)
  • Central Tanzania
  • Rift valley region
  • Northern Kenya
  • Reserved regions (National parks, forests).
2(b) (i) The factors which have led to high population density are:-
  • Employment opportunities in towns like Kampala, Nairobi, Tororo.
  • Mining activities e.g. at Shinyanga, Tororo ,Mwadui, Hoima.
  • Heavy rainfall which attract farmers
  • Gentle slopes which favour settlement
  • Fertile soils suitable for agriculture
  • Well drained soils
  • Polygamy
  • Early marriages
  • Security
  • Low incidence of pests & diseases
  • Urbanization e.g. along the shores of Lake Victoria.
(iii) Factors which have led to low population density include:
  • Government policies that restrict settlement in gazetted areas like parks.
  • Unreliable rainfall in North Eastern Uganda.
  • Pests & Diseases e.g tse tse flies in central Tanzania
  • Effects of slave trade e.g along E. African coast and central Tanzania
  • Infertile soil that cannot support agriculture.
  • Political instabilities.
  • Remoteness due to poor transport & communication.
  • Limited underground water e.g in Northern Kenya.
(c) (i) Problems facing people living in densely populated areas:
  • Shortage of land
  • Easy spread of diseases due to congestion
  • Soil erosion
  • Land degradation due to over cultivation
  • Decline in food / agricultural productivity
  • High crime rate e.g robbery
  • Strain on social services like hospitals, schools, roads , electricity
  • Unemployment
  • Encroachment on forests & wetlands
  • Water & air pollution.
(iii) Problems facing people living in sparsely populated areas of East Africa
  • Limited supply of labour
  • Limited market for the agricultural goods
  • Limited social infrastructure like roads, schools, hospital
  • Food shortage due to low agricultural productivity
  • Pests and diseases e.g tse tse flies
  • Cattle rustling amongst pastoralists.
  • Land degradation due to over grazing.
(d) (i) Steps that can be taken to solve the problems in densely populated areas are:-
  • Land consolidation.
  • Family planning control measures.
  • Soil conservation measures like terraces, mulching practiced.
  • Evacuation of people from densely populated areas to resettlement schemes.
  • More social services like schools have been set up.
  • The masses have been sensitised about the dangers of a big population.
  • Strict laws have been set to control crime rates.
  • Housing schemes have been set up in towns like Kampala, Nairobi.
(ii) Steps taken to solve the problems in sparsely populated areas.
  • Valley dams and boreholes have been constructed to provide water.
  • Social services have been extended to sparsely populated areas.
  • Some sparsely populated areas have been gazetted into game parks.
  • Scientific methods of farming have been adopted e.g ranching
  • Social services have been extended to sparsely populated areas such as education, health, recreation.

SAMPLE QUESTION 3


Study table and answer the questions that follow:-
Table showing population density in selected districts in Uganda

DISTRICTS
TOTAL LAND
AREA (KM)
POPULATION
(000)
POPULATION DENSITY

Mbale
2504
706.6
……….
Kotido
13,208
190.7
140.0
Kabale
1653
412.8
250.0
Rakai
3889
382.2
98.0
Gulu
11,560
338.7
……….

(a) (i) Calculate the population density:
- Mbale
- Gulu
(ii) Which district has the highest population density?
(iii) Which district has the lowest population density?
(b) State the factors responsible for the difference in population densitities of Kabale and Rakai district.
(c) (i) Giving examples from East Africa, give the effects of high population density on the environment.
(ii) State three measures to ease the environmental problems in areas of high population density.

ANSWERS
2 a) (i) – Mbale = 282.1 per km2
(ii) – Gulu = 293.0 per Km2

(ii) District with highest population density is Kabale district
(iii) District with lowest population density is Kotido district.
b) Factors responsible for the differences in population density between Kabale and Rakai districts.
  • Kabale has more social services like hospitals and schools than Rakai.
  • Kabale has more fertile soils (volcanic) for agriculture than in Rakai.
  • There are more employment opportunities in Kabale than in Rakai.
  • Kabale has a high birth rate than Rakai.
  • Kabale receives more rainfall than Rakai which favours agriculture.
  • Aids have reduced the population of Rakai compared to Kabale.

c) (i) The effects of high population density on the environment include;
  • Deforestation e.g. at Kabale and Mabira forest.
  • Swamp reclamation e.g. Nakawa, Bwaise and Nalukolongo in Kampala.
  • Development of slums e.g. Kisenyi in Kampala.
  • Over use of soil leading to land degradation e.g. in Kabale
  • Pollution of water bodies and air industrial smoke
  • Congestion leading to spread of diseases like cholera
ii) Measures taken to solve the above environmental problems include:
  • Eviction of encroachers from forest and wetland areas.
  • Public awareness campaigns
  • Population control methods i.e. family planning
  • Establishment of resettlement schemes.





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