MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING DESIGN ART AND

TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MEC4202: ASSIGNMENT 1

NAME: KAKINDA MARVIN

STUDENT NUMBER: 2000700783

REGISTARTION NUMBER: 20/U/0783

INSTRUCTORS: DR. ISA KABENGE

MR. DENIS NSUBUGA

 POLICIES, LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELEVANT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT IN UGANDA
The economy of Uganda is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its impacts on key sectors
such as agriculture, fisheries, water resources, forestry, energy, health, infrastructure and
settlements. Uganda has therefore developed a number of laws that protect the environment from
abuse and degradation. These laws also regulate aspects that have implications for climate
change mitigation. The key laws that impact on climate change in Uganda are briefly discussed
below.

1. The Uganda Wildlife Act, 1996

The Uganda Wildlife Authority Act provides guidelines responsible for the following functions
related to environmental regulation; (a) ensuring the sustainable management of wildlife
conservation areas; (b) identifying and recommending areas for declaration as wildlife
conservation areas and the revocation of such declaration; (c) establishing the management plans
for wildlife conservation areas and for wildlife population outside wildlife conservation areas.

2. The National Environment Act

The Act provides for a variety of mechanisms to ensure that the law will be enforced that go
beyond the traditional command and sanction approach of criminal law. The following are some
of the mechanisms. Under the Act, a person may apply for an easement to protect the
environment. In view of the Constitutional provision relating to rights to a clean and healthy
environment and the capacity of any person to enforce that right notwithstanding that his specific
rights have been affected, this easement differs from the common law easement

3. The Land Act

The Act, like the Constitution provides, that the government holds in trust for the people, and
protects environmentally sensitive areas such as natural lakes, rivers, ground water, natural
ponds, natural streams, wetlands, forest reserves, national parks and any other land reserved for
ecological and tourist purposes for a common good of the citizens of Uganda.

4. The Water Act

The Act provides guidelines for the use of permits to use and supply water. A person who needs
to construct or operate any water works or for waste discharge, needs permission. The permit
system ensures that use of water resources is environmentally friendly and promotes sustainable

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development. These controls also ensure that water is not treated as a free good, but as a good
with a value to be paid for.

5. The Fisheries Act

This Act regulated fishing, conservation of fish, the catching of crocodiles and the sale and
movement of their skins through issue of licenses. The Act also attempts to conserve fish by
prohibiting the introduction of some species of fish or eggs that were not indigenous to Uganda,
or the transfer of fish or fish eggs from one water body to another without the consent of the
Chief Game Warden.

6. The Local Governments Act

The Local Governments Act provides for the system of local governments, which is based on the
district. An Executive elected by the chairman shall perform, among her functions, overseeing
the implementation of government and council policies, monitoring and coordinating activities of
non-governmental organization in a district.

7. The National Environmental Management Policy (1994)

This Policy is a multi-sector crosscutting policy that is found in nearly every other policy. The
National Environment Policy overall goal is ‘to encourage sustainable development by wise use
of natural resources while enhancing environmental quality without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs’.

8. The Local Governments Act, 1997

This Act provides that it is the responsibility of the local government to protect and preserve the
resources from abuse, pollution and degradation, and to manage the resources for sustainable
development within the district.
9. Mining Act, 2003
This Act invests the ownership and control of all minerals in Uganda in the Government and
provides for the acquisition of mineral rights and other related rights. The Act also provides for
environmental protection standards, environmental restoration plans and environmental
performance bonds in accordance with the Environment Act.

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10. The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 8/2003
An Act to provide for the conservation, sustainable management and development of forests for
the benefit of the people of Uganda; to provide for the declaration of forest reserves for purposes
of protection and production of forests and forest produce; to provide for the sustainable use of
forest resources and the enhancement of the productive capacity of forests; to provide for the
promotion of tree planting and to consolidate the law relating to the forest sector and trade in
forest produce; to establish a National Forestry Authority.

11. Water Act Cap. 152

This Act provides guidelines for the use, protection and management of water resources and
supply; to provide for the constitution of water and sewerage authorities; and to facilitate the
devolution of water supply and sewerage undertakings. This includes a geological structure or
formation and an artificial landfill permeated or capable of being permeated permanently or
intermittently with water. And also includes a water supply area and sewerage area or either of
them, as the case may be.

12. The Uganda National Climate Change Policy

The main aim of this Policy is to ensure that all stakeholders address climate change impacts and
their causes through appropriate measures, while promoting sustainable development and a green
economy.

13. The National Water Policy

The National Water Policy promotes a new integrated approach to manage the water resources in
ways that are sustainable and most beneficial to the people of Uganda. This new approach is
based on the continuing recognition of the social value of water, while at the same time giving
much more attention to its economic value..

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14. The National Water Policy, 2007
This Water Act provides for the use, protection and management of water resources and supply,
the constitution of water and sewage authorities, and the devolution of water supply and
sewerage undertakings.
15. The national Climate Change Policy, 2015
This policy provides an overarching legal framework for enforcing climate change adaptation
actions, through which Uganda will be able to make adjustments in natural or human systems in
response to actual or expected impacts of climate change. One of the key objectives of this
policy is to ensure a harmonized approach towards a climate-resilient and low-carbon
development path for sustainable development in Uganda.
16. The National Fisheries and Aqua culture Policy, 2001
This policy brief contends that the implementation of the aquaculture parks policy will not only
solve the issue of overfishing attributed to capture fisheries, but will also introduce the element
of property rights within common property resources, thus building investment confidence and
high returns on investments coupled with sustainable environmental protection.

17. National Policy for Conservation and Management of Wetlands, 1995

This policy ensures sustainable use to those benefits wetlands and that they are well maintained
for the future. Environmentally sound management of wetlands to ensure the aspects of
environment are not adversely affected.

18. The National Environment Regulation, 2020

The Authority or lead agency may, at its own instance or following a petition by any person,
carry out an environmental enforcement audit for a project or activity that has or may have
adverse human health, environmental, socioeconomic or cultural impacts.

For this regulation, it’s supposed to show the allowable noise, fumes, and other residues from the
facility inform of the health concern. And further streamline the economic impact of the facility
on the economy.

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19. National Environment (Waste Management) Regulation, 2020.
The Regulations provide rules for the handling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous
waste and provide the National Environment Management Authority with the necessary powers
for the proper management of the facilities.

20. The Petroleum (Waste Management) Regulations, 2019

This streamlines the use of what is accepted to be best available practices that are generally
accepted to be the best available practices that are generally accepted good, safe, transparent and
efficient in the management of petroleum waste and that can be applied globally.

This is done to prevent harm to human health and ensure safety if human beings, prevents
pollution, harm to biological diversity and contamination of the water environment by petroleum
waste.

21. The National Environment (Wetlands, River Banks and Lake Shores Management)
Regulations No. 3/2000
These regulations provide for the protection of wetlands and their conservation, inventory of
wetlands. This also provide for the protection of the zones for the riverbanks and lake shores.
Wetland resources shall be utilized in a sustainable manner compatible with the continued
presence of wetlands and their hydrological functions and service.

22. The National Environment (Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and Product)
Regulation, 2020
These regulations are mainly meant to regulate the production, trade, and use of substances and
products. They also promote the use of ozone friendly substances and products, equipment and
technology: ensure the elimination of substances and products that deplete the ozone layer. Also
further control the substances or products by maintaining the records of the controlled
substances. To program, measures and strategies designed to protect the ozone layer and mitigate
global warming effects.