Rural–urban migration in developing countries is considered to be a key process for sustainable development in the coming decades. On the one hand, rural–urban migration can contribute to the socioeconomic development of a country. On the other hand, it also leads to labor transfer, brain-drain in rural areas, and overcrowded cities where planning is lagging behind. In order to get a better insight into the mechanisms of rural–urban migration in developing countries, this paper analyzes motivations for rural–urban migration from the perspective of rural households in Uganda. A total of 1015 rural households located in southwestern Uganda were surveyed in 2019. A total of 48 percent of these households reported having at least one out-migrant. By means of logistic regression modeling, the likelihood for rural out-migration was assessed using household- and community-level socioeconomic characteristics as predictors. The results show that most out-migrants are from relatively wealthy households with a higher-than-average education level. Typically, these households are located in villages that are well connected with urban centers. Poor households in remote locations send significantly fewer migrants because of their limited access to migration information and poor transport networks. From these findings, the following policy recommendations are made: Firstly, efforts should be made to extend basic social services, including quality education, towards rural areas. Secondly, in order to reduce socially disruptive long-distance migration and the eventual overcrowding and sprawls of major cities, government investments should be oriented towards the upgrading of secondary towns, which can offer rural out-migrants rewarding employment and business opportunities.

Ecosystem development is related to climatic conditions. To assess the effect of seasonal changes in climate factors on papyrus ecosystem development, community biomass was estimated non-destructively and climate factors recorded in the wetland. Absolute aerial biomass and productivity were not significantly different between wet and dry seasons. Although there was significant vapour pressure deficit change over the seasons, the impact on net primary productivity was not significant, but exhibited positive association during dry season. Primary productivity was positively related to photosynthetically active radiation during both dry and wet seasons. Except for the dry season that accounted for 26.1% of primary productivity, that of the wet season was independent (0%) of measured weather variables. Key words: Cyperus papyrus, photosynthetically active radiation, productivity, relative humidity, temperature, wetlands.

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is dominant solar radiation reaching the earth surface. PAR changes in response to the position of the sun and length of the day can be complex and perhaps even counter – intuitive to ecosystems. Assessment of PAR on relative humidity (RH), temperature, wind speed and direction in Cyperus papyrus (papyrus) wetland canopy surface was done during the months of September, 2010 (wet month) and June, 2011 (dry month) when the sun is at the equator and Tropics of Cancer respectively. PAR picked up in the morning (7.00 hour) and exhibited similar pattern during the months, although September values were significantly higher between 07.00 - 08.00 hours, 12.00 - 15.00 hours and at 19.00 hour. Significant difference in PAR at 19.00 hour was associated with significant temperature change between 20.00 to 21.00 hours. Significant temperature change between the months from 11.00 to 12.00 hours also occurred before that of PAR (12.00 - 15.00 hours). RH was significantly different between the months. Significant wind speed and direction between 07.00 - 08.00 hours was associated with significant PAR change between the months. Wind oscillation was easterly and southerly wind and significant difference in wind direction also occurred at 10.00 hour. Overall, data based on regression analysis indicate significantly strong correlation between PAR with RH, temperature and wind speed. Such changes in weather variables in relation to the sun’s position, and ecosystem services and development requires assessment.