Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Environmentalists are demanding an increase in domestic funding towards climate change mitigation measures. Dr Tom Okurut, the Executive Director of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), notes that Uganda needs over 150 Billion Uganda Shillings annually to effectively address climate change mitigations and effects. At the moment, …
Read More »Total ban on polythene bags cannot be enforced under current law – NEMA
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Environment Management Authority-NEMA says the recent cabinet decision which imposed a total ban on all polythene bags cannot be enforced under the current legal regime. As part of the efforts to restore the environment in what has been dubbed as the restoration decade, …
Read More »Saving Lake Wamala
Can nature rescue small lake with rich history that mystics and conservationists have failed to save? Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | It is a small 97 sq mile lake on the western edge of Uganda’s central region and quite shallow; just 4.3 metres at its deepest. So compared to Lake …
Read More »Uganda joins global campaign to keep plastics out of its lakes and rivers
Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Uganda joined the Clean Seas Campaign on June 25 demonstrating the country’s commitment to halt the flow of plastic waste entering its lakes and rivers. The Clean Seas Campaign, launched by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2017, has been a catalyst for change, …
Read More »GMO regulations in the offing – NEMA
NEMA is spearheading the development of GMO regulations to operationalize section 63 of the NEMA Act, 2019 Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Environmental Management Authority-NEMA says its drafting regulations for genetically modified organisms-GMOs with the aim of operationalizing sections of the NEMA Act, 2019. The NEMA Executive Director, Dr. …
Read More »Declining forest cover in spotlight as Uganda marks Day for Biological Diversity
Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | As the world celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) May 22, Ugandan experts have called for a new focus to address the negative impacts of infrastructure development on biodiversity particularly at ecosystem and species safety level. According to Francis Ogwal, the Head of …
Read More »Environmentalists appeal against Bugoma forest giveaway decision
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Environmentalists have filed a notice of appeal to contest a judgement dismissing an application challenging the giveaway of Bugoma central forest reserve for sugarcane growing. Last year, the Water and Environment Media Network, National Association of Professional Environmentalists-NAPE, and Africa Institute for Energy Governance sued the …
Read More »NEMA, Hoima Sugar sued yet again over Bugoma forest giveaway
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Law Society and two Civil Society Organisations have filed another petition challenging the planned giveaway of part of Bugoma forest reserve in Kikuube district. Bugoma, a tropical forest gazzeted in 1932, comprises 410 square kilometres of a protected area, and a stretch of forest …
Read More »NEMA to set up national e-waste collection, disposal centre
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is in final stages of setting up a national collection and disposal centre for electric and electronic equipment that are at or near the end of their useful life. Dr. Tom Okurut, the Executive Director NEMA says when electronic …
Read More »NEMA proposes heavy fines, jail sentence for air pollution offences
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda National Environment Authority (NEMA) is proposing heavy fines and jail terms to persons who are found guilty of polluting air and committing other related offences. The proposal is part of Uganda’s first air quality standards and regulations that are currently being developed …
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