ESIA – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Implementation of the Missing Links on the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure [NBI] UNDER THE REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (RCIP) ENV IRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL FOR TH E PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MISSING LINKS ON THE IMPACT NATIONAL DATASSESSA TRANSMMISSIONENT. BA CKBONE INFRASTRUCTURE (NBI) UNDER THE REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (RCIP ) THE NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY OF UGANDA Palm Courts; Plot 7A Rotary Avenue (Former Lugogo Bypass). P.O. Box 33151, Kampala- Uganda Tel: +256-417-801041/2, Fax: +256-417-801050 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nita.go.ug October 2016 1. ESIA for the Proposed Implementation of the Missing Links on the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) under the Regional communications Infrastructure Project. Acknowledgement As a team, we wish to extend our sincere thanks to NITA-U management for the facilitation that enabled us to execute this noble exercise in all the project areas in the shortest time possible. We conducted several consultative meetings with different stakeholders as a preparatory measure before embarking on the field excursion. The team therefore hereby acknowledges support from such stakeholders including:- The World Bank Group for the Environmental Clinic, KCCA technical team for sharing with us their experiences on KDAP, NEMA for the continued guidance especially on the law and regulatory requirements and NITA-U leadership for the timely preparatory meetings that paved way for guided consultations for this team. The team is also thankful to the following Local Governments and partners who relentlessly attend to us; Moroto DLG and Post office, Gulu DLG, Adjumani DLG, Moyo UNRA station, Oraba and Avura Customs posts, Arua and Nebbi DLGs. Special thanks go to our driver Mr. Ayebare who exhibited professional driving skills during this filed excursion especially in terms of safety, respect, diplomacy, time keeping and support to the team. National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) 1.2. ESIA for the Proposed Implementation of the Missing Links on the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) under the Regional communications Infrastructure Project. 1. Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 2 LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ................................................................................................... 3 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. ...... 5 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... ... 1 1.1 Background to the Study.................................................................................................................1 1.1.2 The proposed RCIP 5 Project..........................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose of this ESIA ..........................................................................................................................1 1.3 Objectives of the ESIA Study...........................................................................................................2 1.4 Methodology.......................................................................................................................................2 1.5 Developer’s contact...........................................................................................................................2 1.6 Project Cost..........................................................................................................................................3 1.7 Structure of the ESIA Report............................................................................................................3 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...........................................................................................4 2.1 Location and Site Description of the proposed development...............................................4 2 .2 Implementation Schedule summary.............................................................................................7 2.3 Project description............................................................................................................................8 2.4 Project components..........................................................................................................................9 2.4 .2 Component 1: Enabling Environment...........................................................................................9 2.4.3 Component 2 – Connectivity.........................................................................................................10 2.4.4 Component 3: e-Government Applications................................................................................10 2.4.5 Component 4: Project Management..............................................................................................11 2.5 Project Areas.......................................................................................................................................11 2.6 Project Phase Activities.....................................................................................................................11 2.6.2 Construction Phase.............................................................................................................................12 2.6.3 Operation Phase...................................................................................................................................12 2.6.4 Decommissioning Phase.....................................................................................................................12 National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) 3. ESIA for the Proposed Implementation of the Missing Links on the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) under the Regional communications Infrastructure Project. 3 INSTITUTION, POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK..................................................................13 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................13 3.2 Policy Framework...................................................................................................................................13 3.2.1 The National Environment Management Policy, 1994.........................................................................13 3.2.2 Information Management Services Policy Draft V.8 2011...................................................................13 3.2.3 Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Management Policy, 2012.......................................................................14 3.2.4 National ICT Policy, 2012......................................................................................................................14 3.2.5 Telecommunications Policy, 1996.........................................................................................................14 3.2.6 The National Culture Policy, .................................................................................................................14 3.2.7 The National Land Use Policy, 2007.....................................................................................................15 3.2.8 Wetlands Policy, 1995...........................................................................................................................15 3.2.9 National Water Policy, 1999..................................................................................................................15 3.2.10 Wildlife Policy, ..................................................................................................................................15 3.2.11 The Forestry Policy, 2001..................................................................................................................16 3.2.12 National Gender Policy, 1997............................................................................................................16 3.2.13 HIV/AIDS Policy, 1992.......................................................................................................................16 3.2.14 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Policy...................................................................................16 3.2.15 National Development Plan, 2010......................................................................................................17 3.2.16 Uganda’s Vision 2040.........................................................................................................................19 3.2.17 National Policy on Disability in Uganda, 2006....................................................................................19 3.2.18 World Bank Safeguards Policies.........................................................................................................20 3.3 Legal Framework 22 3.3.1 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 ........................... 22 3.3.2 The Electronic Signatures Act, 2011 ........................................ 22 3.3.3 Computer Misuse Act, 2010 ..................................................