ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE LEGAL CHALLENGES OF URBAN PLANNING. AN ANALYSIS OF COMPLIANCE WITH NEMA IN MBALE CITY.

The study delved into establishing how Mbale city has protected the environment thereby complying with the mandate given to NEMA in the wake of urban planning .This paper thus principally focused on how the environment especially in relation to protection of water catchment areas, waste management, pollution, forestry has been protected in Mbale city in the wake of urban planning and development. 

The study was driven by three objectives the first examining the legal and regulatory framework of environmental protection in Uganda, the second dealt with the role of the national environmental management authority in environmental protection whereas the third examined the extent of protection afforded to the environment in the wake of urban planning in Mbale city.

To achieve this objectives, the researchers employed both qualitative and quantitative approach of Data collection and analysis.in this spirit secondary data was collected and analyzed paying attention to text books, thesis dissertations, scholarly articles, government policies and the internet but these data was supplemented with primary data obtained through interviews and questionnaire directed to the literate stakeholders and affected communities in mbale city.

The study revealed that there is a strong environmental regulatory framework in Uganda that has been described by some scholars as exceptional wherein NEMA has been given a great mandate of environmental protection and management However Mbale city has not performed exceptionally in environmental protection in areas of wetlands and water catchment areas, forestry, Waste management though some positive environmental protection mechanisms have been devised and implemented. 

The study tentatively concluded that there is need for greater reforms in the city involving all stakeholders if indeed sustainable development cognizant of the environment is to be realized.