The Development Related Role of Pottery Production in the Ankole Region in Western Uganda: A Case Study

The main aim was to look at how the pottery business contributes to reducing poverty and unemployment as well as how it affects the environment. The study looked into the socioeconomic and technical aspects of pottery manufacture in the Ankole district of western Uganda. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data gathering and analysis were used throughout the study's fieldwork. First, 148 respondents were given questionnaires from a diverse cross-section of the Ankole district. Second, in order to get a more thorough grasp of the experiences and viewpoints of both traditional and modern potters—something a questionnaire alone could not provide—40 potters were interviewed and seven focus group talks were held with potters from this region. According to the results, women are predominantly responsible for creating traditional pottery, whereas males are mostly involved in developing new techniques and manufacturing commercial pottery. Unquestionably, brick and tile manufacturing has developed into a successful industry, particularly for male adolescents because to the great demand for the goods from both rural and urban populations. However, pottery-related activities have wreaked havoc on the ecosystem. These efforts have produced pools of still water in some locations, which serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry malaria over much of the region.