The Role Of Localgovernments In The Protection Of The Environment In Uganda. A Case Study Of Sembabule District

ABSTRACT

In Uganda environmental and natural resource management is decentralized

and has been the responsibility of Local districts since 1996.Decentralisation is defined

as; A process through which authority and responsibility for some functions are

transferred from the Central Government To Local Governments ,Communities and the

private sector.[FAO,2014].This environmental management arrangement was part of a

broader decentralization process and was intended to increase local ownership and

improve environmental policy; however, its implementation has encountered several

major challenges since. This research paper reviews some of the key structural problems

facing decentralized environmental policy in Uganda and examines these issues within

the wider framework of political decentralization. The research is composed of the

historical background and the current development of environmental Law in Uganda

since the days of colonialism to date. The researcher looked at the relationship between

different stakeholder in the protection of the environment ,including; Technical staff,

Politicians at different levels, Local and Central Government, private individuals and

Non Government Organizations together with other policy domains. The study is to

offer a critical reflection on the perspectives and the limitations of decentralized

environmental governance in Uganda. The researcher also looked at the applicability of

Common Law principles with respect to environmental protection and the effectiveness

of the present Legal framework in Uganda in the protection of the environment. The

research concentrate on the role played by Sembabule district as a case study in the

protection of the environment ,enforcement of the environmental laws, educating of

masses about environmental laws and the inter-relationship between the public and

stakeholders with respect to environmental standards. Finally the study gives the

recommendation and observation based on the findings from the ground, written materials and responses to the questionnaires that are attached.