An interrogation into causes of conflicts and the community awareness of environmental laws in Uganda: case of Kampala City Wetlands

Abstract

Natural resource conflicts have become prevalent across the globe and Uganda is not an exception. This is further exacerbated by irresponsible and unsustainable human activities. While there are several laws in Uganda that regulate the human treatment of the non-human environment; compliance with these laws and enforcement have always been a great challenge. Conflicts related to natural resources continue to occur in various parts of the country, both rural and urban; especially between law enforcement agencies/environmental conservation agencies and environmental degraders; and among members of local communities. This research was conducted to delve deeper into natural resource conflicts in Kampala City in order to assess level of compliance with environmental laws and the effectiveness of environmental law enforcement; with specific focus on wetlands. Three categories of respondents were involved during primary data collection, namely: members of local communities bordering wetlands, law enforcement officials and senior government officials from environmental conservation Ministries, Agencies and Departments. Other sources of information were derived from secondary data, collected through literature review. The findings of the study reveal that most of the respondents are quite aware of the existence of environmental laws and regulations. However, there is impunity within the population, where environmental laws are violated knowingly. On the other hand, rich individuals and large corporations tend to circumvent environmental laws using technical terms such as “vanquished” wetlands. Where a project is approved with some sections of the land falling within wetlands, the terms and conditions stipulated in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate are rarely followed; primarily to avoid the huge financial implications. The study further established that the high population of Kampala City has driven most of the low-income City residents to seek accommodation in wetlands, where land is relatively cheap. Several recommendations to minimize natural resource conflicts in Kampala City are provided. These include massive sensitization, expansion of specialized courts to expeditiously handle environmental cases, operationalization of Local Environment Committees at District level, non-selective enforcement of environmental laws, clear demarcation of wetland boundaries and sustainable use of wetland resources guided by wetland management plans for each wetland system. It is also recommended that the two environmental enforcement Units – one under Uganda Police Force (UPF) and the other under National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) be merged to form one robust enforcement unit. This will enhance effectiveness, avoid duplication of duties and streamline command and control. Local communities bordering wetlands also need to own these resources by deriving direct benefits from them. Such benefits include edge farming (especially fruits and vegetables), fish farming and sustainable extraction of wetland resources under a clear wetland management plan.