Environmental and Social Impact Statement for the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Kamwenge District
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Office of the Prime Minister, in partnership with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE RWAMWANJA REFUGEE SETTLEMENT, KAMWENGE DISTRICT Prepared by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Association with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Rwenzo – Green Associates Ltd 1 Table of Contents CONSULTANCY TEAM ........................................................................................................ 6 LIST OF ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................... 7 Measures and units: .......................................................................................................... 8 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 25 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................... 25 1.2 Purpose of the ESIA .......................................................................................... 26 1.3 Objectives of Environment and Social Impact Assessment ........................... 27 2. ESIA Methodology ................................................................................................... 28 2.1 General Methodology ....................................................................................... 28 2.2 Specific Approaches .......................................................................................... 34 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................ 40 3.1 Objectives of the refugee Resettlement ......................................................... 40 3.2 Justification of the Resettlement Programme ................................................ 40 3.3 Location of the Rwamwanja Resettlement Project ........................................ 41 3.4 Pre Settlement Activities .................................................................................. 43 3.5 Settlement Activities and Operations ............................................................ 43 3.6 Activities and operation of the Settlement ..................................................... 44 4 POLICY LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK .............................................. 45 4.1 Policy Framework .............................................................................................. 45 4.1.1 The National Environment Management Policy ........................................ 45 4.1.2 The National Water Policy, 1999 ................................................................. 45 4.1.3 The Policy on the Conservation and Management of Wetlands, 1995 ..... 46 4.1.4 National Gender Policy, 1997 ....................................................................... 46 4.1.5 National AIDS Policy and National Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS activities in Uganda (2003/04 – 2005/06) ............................................................... 47 4.1.6 National Resettlement/ Land Acquisition Policy ....................................... 47 4.2 Legal Framework ............................................................................................... 47 4.2.1 The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 .................................... 47 4.2.2 The National Environment Act, Cap 153 ..................................................... 48 4.2.3 The Water Act Cap 152, 1995 ....................................................................... 48 4.2.4 The Land Act, Cap 227 .................................................................................. 48 4.2.5 The Survey Act, 1994 .................................................................................... 49 4.2.6 The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 ................................... 49 4.2.7 The Land Acquisition Act, 1965....................................................................... 50 4.2.8 The Historical and Monuments Act, 1967 ................................................... 50 4.2.9 The National Environment (Minimum Standards for the Management of Soil Quality) Regulations, 2001 ................................................................................ 51 4.2.10 The National Environment (Hilly and Mountainous Area Management) Regulations, 2000 (Uganda Section 107 of the National Environment Act Cap 153) 51 4.2.11 Town and Country Planning Act, Cap 246 ................................................ 52 4.2.12 Local Government Act, Cap 243 ................................................................ 52 2 4.2.13 The Uganda Wildlife Act, Cap 200 ............................................................. 52 4.2.14 The Public Health Act, 1964 ....................................................................... 53 4.2.15 The National Environment (Waste Management) Regulations, 2003 .... 53 4.2.16 The National Environment (Control of Smoking in Public Places), Regulations 2004 ..................................................................................................... 53 4.2.17 The Environment Impact Assessment Regulations,1998 ........................ 54 4.2.18 The Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment in Uganda, ........ 54 4.2.19 The Environmental Audit Guidelines for Uganda, 1999 ........................... 54 4.2.20 The National Environment (Conduct and Certification of Environmental Practitioners) Regulations, 2003 (Under Section107 of the National Environment Act Cap 153) ............................................................................................................... 54 4.3 Institutional Framework ................................................................................... 54 4.4 International Agreements (relevant to the project and environment) ......... 57 4.4.1 The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) ............................................ 57 4.4.2 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972 ................................................ 57 4.4.3 The African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 1968 ....................................................................................................... 58 4.4.4 The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992 ........................................................................................................ 58 4.4.5 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003 58 4.4.6 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) ............................................................................................................. 59 4.5 Environment in a humanitarian context of mass population displacement 59 5 EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ................................................................................................................. 60 5.1 Project Local Area ............................................................................................. 61 5.2 Physical Environment ........................................................................................ 61 5.2.1 Physical Status of the Project Area ............................................................. 62 5.2.2 Topography and Geomorphology .............................................................. 62 5.2.3 Geology and Soils ......................................................................................... 62 5.2.4 Hydrology and Water Resources ................................................................ 62 5.2.5 Climate .......................................................................................................... 62 5.2.6 Pollution Potential ....................................................................................... 63 5.2.7 Hazardous Materials .................................................................................... 63 5.3 Biological Environment ..................................................................................... 63 5.3.1 Kamwenge District ...................................................................................... 64 5.3.2 Agriculture within the Settlement .............................................................. 65 5.3.3 Vegetation Description ................................................................................ 66 5.3.3.1 Riverine Forests ......................................................................................... 66 5.3.3.2 Shrub Savanna on Rocky outcrops / hills .............................................. 67 5.3.3.3 Woody Savanna ...................................................................................... 70 5.3.3.4 Thicket Clumps ....................................................................................... 71 5.3.4 Wetlands ....................................................................................................... 72 3 5.4.1 Administrative Units .................................................................................... 73 5.4.2 Population .................................................................................................... 74 5.4.3 Ethnic Composition and Cultural Set Up .................................................... 75 5.4.4 Health ........................................................................................................... 76 5.4.5 Morbidity .....................................................................................................