KAMPALA INTRENATIONAL UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF LAW Effectiveness of Environmental Institutions and Laws in the Protection of the Environment in Uganda: A case study of the 2009 Ban on the Polythene Bags (Kaveera). By AGGREY MUHWEZI Reg. No.LLB/18107/71/DU SUPERVISOR JEFFREY ATWINE A dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Law as a partial fulfillment for the Award of Bachelor of Laws of Kampala International University May, 2011 ' DECLARATION I, Muhwezi Aggrey hereby declare that this dissertation is my original work and has not been submitted to any other university or institution of higher learning for the award of a degree. MUHWEZI AGGREY Signature .........c~.g- ...::=:,'.. .... .... ...................... ... .. ...... Date ........ ...... -~ -~ -.~.\~-~~-.. ... ....... .. ... ... ... .. ..... 11 APPROVAL This dissertation has been approved for submission to the faculty of law by the university supervisor after having thoroughly read through its contents Signature Date ··· ~ · · · ··· ... ....<'(f .~·· '·'········ MR. JEFREY ATWINE lll DEDICATION This piece of work is dedicated to my wife and children. IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am highly indehted to a number of people who made significant contribution to the success ofthis research. First, I extend sincere thanks to my supervisor Mr. Jeffrey Atwine for the time he dedicated to this work. I recognise his endless commitment in educating me on the most critical sections of the study. His encouragement, guidance and constructive criticisms made me to work hard and finish. My special thanks also go to Dr. KENETH KAKURU of Kakuru and Company advocates for the best advice and time he personally gave to me especially in choosing this research topic and continued encouragement until I finished this dissertation. I wish to thank the assistance received from my fellow classmates with whom we shared a lot on issues related to research methods and dissertation writing. This mainly helped me in developing skills of putting collected data together. More thanks go to my friends who in one way or another encouraged me to complete the course. Finally, I extend thanks to the residents of Kawempe division for their cooperation and acceptance to take part in the study. To all these people, I say God bless you richly. V ACRONYMS CIEL Centre for International Environmental Law cso Civil Society Organization EIA Environment Impact Assessment E-LAW Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide ECSI Environmental Consultancy Services International ELI Environmental Law Institute HDPE High Density Polythene LDPE Low density polythene LEAT Lawyers' Environment Action Team NAPE National Association of Professional Environmentalists NEA National Environment Act NEAP National Environment Action Plan NEMA National Environment Management Authority NEMP National Environment Management Policy NFA National Forestry Authority NGO Non Government Organisation UNEP United Nations Environment Program UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority uws Uganda Wildlife Society WID Wetlands Inspection Division Vl TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................... v ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. vii ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. 2 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 2 I. 0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Back ground to the study ........................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Problem Statement ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Objectives of the study .............................................................................................................. 4 1.4.1 General Objective ................................................................................................................... 4 1.4.2 Specific objectives .................................................................................................................. 4 1.5 Research questions ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Scope of the study ...................................................................................................................... 5 1. 7 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 5 CI-IAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................. 7 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................ 7 2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 The Institutional Framework for the Management of the Environment .................................... 7 2.1.1 The Role of Central Government ........................................................................................... 7 2.1.2 The Role of Parliament ........................................................................................................... 8 2.1.3 The Role ofNEMA ................................................................................................................ 8 2.1.4 The Role of Courts .................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.5 The Role of Civil Society ..................................................................................................... 1O Vll 2.2 The Legal Framework for the Management of the Environment ............................................ 11- 2.4 Effectiveness of Environmental Laws and institutions ........................................................... 12 2.5 A clean and Health Environment ............................................................................................. 16 2.6 Impact of Polythene Bags on the Environment.. ..................................................................... 19 CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................................... 23 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................. 23 3.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 23 3. I Research Design ...................................................................................................................... 23 3 .2 Area of Study ........................................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Study Population ...................................................................................................................... 24 3.4 Sample Size and Selection ....................................................................................................... 24 Source: From the field ................................................................................................................... 24 3 .5 Data Collection Methods ......................................................................................................... 25 3.6 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 25 3. 7 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................................. 26 3. 8 Limitations of the study and how they were overcome .......................................................... 26 CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 27 PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ......................... .27 4.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................