Browsing by Author "Andama, Edward"

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    An evaluation of the environmental impact assessment practice in Uganda: challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable development
    (Heliyon, 2020) Taako, Edema George; Kiemo, Karatu; Andama, Edward
    Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a broad process that emerged from the National Environment Policy Act, 1970 in the U.S. Its primary objective is to generate information on the likely impacts of a project on all aspects of the environment and used in agency decision making and in the long run protect the environment and achieve sustainable development. EIA practice in Uganda was formally established through the National Environment Act, 1995 and now in practice for over 25 years. However, there is increasing level of water pollution especially Lake Victoria, rivers, streams, aquifers and soils. This research reviewed the institutional, legal and regulatory framework for EIA, related literature and EIA documents especially EIA reports and conducted key EIA stakeholders survey using questionnaires to identify capacity and practice issues. The results revealed that, there was gap between law and practice arising from inadequate and ineffective public participation, weak follow-up, low key stakeholder's capacity, political interference, lack of SEA practice and not embracing EIA in a transboundary context. However, there is fairly good and comprehensive institutional, legislative and regulatory framework for EIA, good local governance structures, adequate staffing, robust national planning framework, active non-state actors and regional groupings. In order to maximize the potential of EIA as a means for achieving the SDGs, we recommended measures to address the challenges facing the EIA practice as well as utilize the existing opportunities within the context in which EIA is applied.
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    An evaluation of the environmental impact assessment practice in Uganda: challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable development
    (Heliyon, 2020-05-08) Taako, Edema George; Kiemo, Karatu; Andama, Edward
    Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a broad process that emerged from the National Environment Policy Act, 1970 in the U.S. Its primary objective is to generate information on the likely impacts of a project on all aspects of the environment and used in agency decision making and in the long run protect the environment and achieve sustainable development. EIA practice in Uganda was formally established through the National Environment Act, 1995 and now in practice for over 25 years. However, there is increasing level of water pollution especially Lake Victoria, rivers, streams, aquifers and soils. This research reviewed the institutional, legal and regulatory framework for EIA, related literature and EIA documents especially EIA reports and conducted key EIA stakeholders survey using questionnaires to identify capacity and practice issues. The results revealed that, there was gap between law and practice arising from inadequate and ineffective public participation, weak follow-up, low key stakeholder's capacity, political interference, lack of SEA practice and not embracing EIA in a transboundary context. However, there is fairly good and comprehensive institutional, legislative and regulatory framework for EIA, good local governance structures, adequate staffing, robust national planning framework, active non-state actors and regional groupings. In order to maximize the potential of EIA as a means for achieving the SDGs, we recommended measures to address the challenges facing the EIA practice as well as utilize the existing opportunities within the context in which EIA is applied.
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    An Evaluation of the Participation of the Affected Public in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) For Manufacturing and Processing Industries in the Central Region of Uganda
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2023) Taako, George Edema; Andama, Edward; Kiemo, James Karatu
    Environmental impact assessment (EIA) was legally introduced in Uganda through the National Environment Act (NEA) 1995 (now NEA 2019) and made operational by the EIA Regulations 1998. Since the origin of EIA from the National Environment Policy Act of 1970 in the USA, public participation has taken an essential part of the EIA process. This paper assesses the legal provisions for public participation in the EIA process and the actual practice in Uganda, particularly the affected public. Data was collected using a literature review, survey questionnaire, interview guides and documentary analysis. The results indicated fairly good legal provisions for public participation and involvement in EIA. However, public participation was not well legislated in the early phases of the EIA process (preparation of project brief, screening, and scoping) and the later phases, particularly final decision-making and EIA follow-up. There were gaps between the law and the actual practice due to many contextual factors, including public participation, weak monitoring by the regulator, weak community cohesion and environmental stewardship, limited dissemination of EIA information and lack of community awareness of projects' potential environmental, social and health impacts. The study made recommendations to promote the participation of the affected public in the EIA process
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    Cost- Benefit Analysis of Collaborative Forest Management: A Case Study of Tororo Central Forest Reserve, Eastern Uganda
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2022-07-08) Anguti, Silas; Mukadasi, Buyinza; Andama, Edward
    Forests provide multitude of benefits to humanity in terms of local socio-economic, development, and environmental protection which are often not valued at national level because of lack of a valuation system for the ecosystem services. This study undertook a cost-benefit analysis of Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) implementation at Tororo Central Forest Reserve (TCFR) between Nyangole community and National Forestry Authority (NFA) using Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). The result showed that Nyangole community incurred total discounted costs of USD 74,440.0 on tree planting, forest resource management and protection, tree nursery activities and agriculture. Meanwhile they received total discounted economic benefits of USD 396,720.0 from sale of poles, tree seedlings, training opportunities, fire wood, mango fruits, and food stuffs. Other benefits that accrued to the community were opportunity of receiving visitors at the project, training allowances and other ecosystem services provided by the forest. The benefit-cost ratio of CFM to Nyangole community was 5:1 with positive Net Present Value (NPV). We concluded that the CFM partnership between government and Nyangole yielded benefits to the both parties and recommend that this approach be rolled to other sites within the country
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    Elephant Population Status, Distribution and Conservation Threats in Kibale National Park, Uganda.
    (East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources, 2021) Aleper, Daniel; Andama, Edward; Adriko, Kennedy
    This study focused on the estimation of the African elephant population, distribution, and conservation threats in Kibale National Park (KNP) from August 2019 to February 2020. The objectives of the study were to: generate population estimates, distribution and assess threats to the conservation of elephants. The line transect method based on the dung pile count density from line transect, dung decay, and defecation rates were used to estimate the elephant population. The density was calculated by multiplying the decay rate with the ratio of dung density to defecation rates. The overall elephant population was estimated at 566.27 (95% Confidence limits 377.24-850.02). This was a slow increase from 393 recorded in 2005 to 566 animals in 2019. Elephants were widely distributed within the park and these pose challenges such as increasing human-elephant conflicts. With a steady increase in the elephant population and seasonal movements out of the park, there is a need to continuously monitor elephant population growth and ranging behaviour vis-a-vis available habitat range and how this impacts ecosystem dynamics and human-elephant conflicts
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    Environmental Impact Assessment Follow–Up in Central Uganda’s Processing and Manufacturing Industries: Implications for Achieving Sustainable Development
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2024) Taako, George Edema; Kiemo, James Karatu; Andama, Edward
    Environmental impact assessment (EIA) was introduced in Uganda by the National Environment Act 1995, now repealed by the National Environment Act 2019. EIA was made operational by the EIA Regulations, 1998, which is now replaced by the National Environment (Environmental and Social Assessment) Regulations 2020. It is generally agreed that the EIA follow-up is an essential part of the EIA process, without which EIA becomes a pro-forma exercise seeking plan or project approval. This paper assesses the legal and regulatory provisions for EIA follow-up and the actual practice in central Uganda’s processing and manufacturing industries for 24 years (1995-2019) of practice. Data was collected from key categories of EIA stakeholders, including the affected public, the interested public, the developers, and the regulator or its delegated entities. Data was collected between 2018 and 2019 using a review of related literature, documentary analysis, checklists, key informant interviews, and specifically designed questionnaires for the different categories of key EIA stakeholders. Data was analyzed using largely descriptive statistics and, to some extent, inferential statistics. Our finding was that there was a wide gap between law and the actual practice of EIA follow-up. Specifically, there was limited monitoring by the regulator, absent post-assessment environmental audit, low to moderate implementation of mitigation measures and poor communication between the developers and the affected public. This was mainly due to poor implementation of the pre-approval phases of the EIA process and other context factors. The paper made several recommendations to improve the design and implementation of the EIA follow-up program
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    Environmental Literacy and Practice of Environmental Sustainability among Secondary School Students in Busia District, Eastern Uganda
    (East African Journal of Education Studies, 2022) Wandera, Eustance; Andama, Edward; Atibuni, Dennis Zami; Suubi, Ujeyo Margaret Stella
    Environmental education is vital to promote knowledge, skills, attitudes, and practices to solve environmental problems, in the long run building a sustainable environment for current and future generations. This study aimed at determining the influence of Environmental Literacy (EL) on the practice of Environmental Sustainability (ES) among secondary school students in Busia District in Eastern Uganda. Using parallel convergent mixed methods and cross-sectional survey designs, 466 participants including 409 randomly selected students in 12 secondary schools filled the Environmental Literacy Survey (ELS) tool and questionnaire on the practice of ES. Forty-eight students from 6 randomly selected schools in 6 groups participated in focus group discussion (FGD), and 9 teachers of Geography, Agriculture, and Biology from 3 schools participated in an FGD. The results indicate that the students had a functional level of EL (M = 115.72, SD = 18.27), and a moderate level of practice of ES (M = 38.83, SD = 8.39). There was a significant relationship between EL and ES (r = .446, p < .01) which suggested that the secondary school curriculum yielded a functional EL. The level of EL was higher than the level of practice of ES. We recommend that the teaching profession should address the gap in attitude and practice by balancing the learning experiences in the school curriculum on the environmental knowledge, attitudes towards the environment as well as behaviour and practice of environmental sustainability.
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    Relationships between Anthropogenic Activities and Distribution of Medium to Large Mammal Species Assemblage in Madi Wildlife Corridor: Implication for Biodiversity Conservation in Uganda
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2024-05-04) Andama, Edward; Bemigisha, Jane; Turyahabwe, Remigio
    Wildlife corridors between protected areas increase connectivity by integrating populations into single demographic units, thereby increasing gene flows within populations and thus probability of survival. This study assessed the relationship between anthropogenic activities and mammal species assemblage within and around Madi wildlife corridor. The study adopted recce walks along a zig-zag line transect and straight line transect methods of game tracking. Global Position System (GPS) was used to map locations of direct mammal sightings, vocalizations, tracks, dung/droppings, diggings, carcasses, and skeletal remains of mammal species. Similarly, anthropogenic activities such as hunting using bow and arrows, rifles, trapping, tree cutting, charcoal burning, bush burning, cultivation, and settlements that seemed to influence assemblage of the mammals in the area of study were mapped. The result showed that the Madi wildlife corridor still contained diverse mammal species including but not limited to; the African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana sp.), Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) Leopards (Panthera pardus), Spotted Hyena (Crocuta Crocuta), Northern Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis), Uganda kob (Kobus kob thomasi), Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) and Reedbuck (Redunca arundinum), which were comparable to that of the adjacent Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP). The relationship between anthropogenic activities and species assemblage showed a negatively skewed distribution of some of the large mammal species specifically Elephants, Giraffes, and Hippopotamus. The study recommends gazettement of a wildlife corridor between MFNP and East Madi Wildlife Reserve to promote wildlife connectivity between two adjacent ecosystem-protected areas in northern Uganda. As a long-term strategy for wildlife conservation, it is crucial to undertake a systematic assessment and prioritization and demarcation of wildlife corridors and development of a comprehensive action plan for securing them. We further recommend development of a national Wildlife Corridor Regulations to provide a framework for the sustainable conservation of biodiversity