Natural Sciences

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Biodiversity of Karuma Wildlife reserve based on studies conducted in two of the encroached areas, the Kibyama and Mpumwe villages.
(EPED Project, 1997) Behangana, Mathias; Etyang Hillary, Patrick; Bakamwesiga, Isaiah Owiunji Andrew Martin (
Karuma Wildlife Reserve lies in an enclave of protected areas which comprise of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo Forest Reserves. This system of protected areas mostly lies in Masindi District western Uganda and was traditionally an expansive ranging ground for large game like elephants and buffaloes besides the smaller species.
Documentation and Evaluation of EcoSan Experiences in Uganda
(DWD, 2005) Niwagaba, Charles B.; Asiimwe, Florence Akiiki
Ecological sanitation (ecosan) was introduced in Uganda as an alternative sanitation system that could solve the problems of traditional means of human excreta management namely difficult soils (rocky as well areas with high water table), need for digging new pits which is expensive and sometimes there may not be enough land for digging new pits in the case of pit latrines; high initial cost as well as high operation and maintenance costs in the case of water borne systems; and potential for contamination of ground water by both systems. Examples depicting the extent of the problem of traditional sanitation systems were twofold. The first was the 1997 hydro-geological study which showed that the veins of the Chuho water source were passing beneath the Kisoro town, suggesting a serious health risk of pit latrines in the town. The other was the difficulty of constructing pit latrines in Muhanga trading center where most toilets were collapsing due to high water table and unstable soils. Against this background, the Directorate of Water Development (DWD) started constructing ecosan toilets under the South Western Towns Water and Sanitation (SWTWS) Project, a Government of Uganda (GoU) project co-funded by the governments of Uganda and Austria. At the beginning, attempts to introduce ecosan toilets were met with resistance as people felt it was unheard of to re-use human excreta. The very first ecosan toilets were of the composting type. These were inappropriately operated since they resembled ordinary pit latrines and people did not understand and follow the correct procedures of adding carbon bulking materials. Consequently, the toilets were abandoned in favour of urine diverting dehydration toilets. In addition to Austria Government, more other donors namely Sida and DFID are now supporting ecosan activities in Uganda. Over the last 3 years, DWD hly that there are approximately 5000 ecosan toilets in Uganda. This study ‘the documentation and evaluation of ecosan experiences in Uganda’ was commissioned by DWD. The objective of this study was to collect, document and evaluate people’s experiences on ecosan; and to use that information to come up with preliminary do’s and don’t’s in ecosan implementation in Uganda. The study was performed in twelve (12) districts in Uganda namely, Kisoro, Kabale, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Mbarara, Masaka, Rakai, Wakiso, Mpigi, Soroti and Arua.
Biodiversity Monitoring in Uganda: assessment of Monitoring Programs Report
(NatureUganda, 2008) Eilu, Gerald; Ssegawa, Paul; Olanya, Concy
Countries that are party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including Uganda, are obliged to monitor biodiversity (Article 7.b) but many have yet to establish national monitoring programmes. Many animal and plant species have declined in numbers, geographical spread, or both but quantitative monitoring data are not readily available. Human activity has increased the extinction rate of species worldwide by at least 100 times compared to the natural rate. The main factors directly driving biodiversity loss include, but are not limited to, habitat loss, fragmentation of forests, invasive alien species, overexploitation, pollution and climate change. Biodiversity monitoring data coupled with other environmental data form an important basis for future nature conservation policy and for other policy areas that have a significant impact on biodiversity for example; forestry, agriculture, and wildlife. Biodiversity monitoring can be used to identify negative and positive impacts on biodiversity at an early stage and trigger appropriate action. Distinguishing natural fluctuations from abnormal changes and identifying cause-andeffect relationships between external factors and changes in biodiversity is an important outcome of monitoring. The unique global status of Uganda in terms of biodiversity necessitates that it is properly managed to prevent unprecedented losses. Uganda has a unique occurrence and distribution of biodiversity, attributed to the country’s location within the equatorial belt and the associated physical and climatic features as well as overlap of phytochoria. In Uganda, however, approximately 200 species of plants and animals are red-listed meaning that they are species of global importance for conservation and deserve special attention. However, Uganda lacks a biodiversity monitoring framework through which activities related to biodiversity can be harmonized, and information/data shared to prevent duplication and wastage of scarce resources. Uganda is also obliged to align its biodiversity management goals alongside the 2010 Biodiversity Target and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) particularly Goal 7. The CBD recognizes that national participation towards meeting the 2010 Target must be informed and driven by national priorities, but these are unclear for Uganda.
Environmental Crimes in Ethiopia
(INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY STUDIES, 2009) Mwebaza, Rose; Mwanika, Philip Njuguna; Wonndemagegnehu, Wondowossen Sintayehu
"This study sets out to examine this complex question by determining what constitutes an environmental crime in Ethiopian jurisprudence.This will be done by examining the legal and institutional regime for combating environmental crimes. The study also examines the main perpetrators of environmental crime in Ethiopia and the main enforcement mechanisms that are in place to deal with the perpetrators. Finally, the study examines the capacity needs that have to be addressed to enhance the enforcement of environmental crimes in Ethiopia."
Poverty and sustainable development impacts of REDD architecture; options for equity growth and the environment
(International Institute for Environment and Development, 2010) Nabanoga, Gorettie; Namaalwa, Justine; Ssenyonjo, Edward
Poverty and sustainable development impacts of REDD architecture is a multi country project led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED, UK) and the University of Life Sciences (Aas, Norway). It started in July 2009 and will continue to May 2013. The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) as part of the Norwegian Government’s Climate and Forest Initiative. The first phase of the project (July 2009 to May 2010) has been in partnership with Fundação Amazonas Sustentável (Brazil); Civic Response (Ghana); SNV (Viet Nam); Sokoine University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Tanzania); and Makerere University, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Uganda). The project aims to increase understanding of how different options for REDD design and policy at international, national and sub-national level will affect achievement of greenhouse gas emission reduction and co-benefits of sustainable development and poverty reduction. As well as examining the internal distribution and allocation of REDD payments under different design option scenarios at both international and national level, the project will work with selected REDD pilot projects in each of the five countries to generate evidence and improve understanding on the poverty impacts of REDD pilot activities, the relative merits of different types of payment mechanisms and the transaction costs.
The Ongo Community Forest REDD+ pilot Project, Uganda: A socioeconomic baseline survey
(International Institute for Environment and Development, 2012) Nabanoga, Gorettie; Namaalwa, Justine; Ssenyonjo, Edward
Poverty and sustainable development impacts of REDD architecture is a multi-country project led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED, UK) and the University of Life Sciences (Aas, Norway). It started in July 2009 and will continue to December 2013. The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) as part of the Norwegian Government’s Climate and Forest Initiative. The partners in the project are Fundação Amazonas Sustentável (Brazil); Hamilton Resources and Consulting (Ghana); SNV (Viet Nam); Sokoine University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Tanzania); and Makerere University, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Uganda). The project aims to increase understanding of how different options for REDD design and policy at international, national and sub-national level will affect achievement of greenhouse gas emission reduction and co-benefits of sustainable development and poverty reduction. As well as examining the internal distribution and allocation of REDD payments under different design option scenarios at both international and national level, the project will work with selected REDD pilot projects in each of the five countries to generate evidence and improve understanding on the poverty impacts of REDD pilot activities, the relative merits of different types of payment mechanisms and the transaction costs.
Socio-economic conditions in REDD+ pilot areas A synthesis of five baseline surveys
(International Institute for Environment and Development, 2012) Movik, Synne; Birikorang, Gene; Enright, Adrian; Kajembe, George; Lima, Luiza; Marostica, Suelen; Megid Pinto, Thais; Nabanoga, Gorettie; Nantongo, Maria; Namaalwa, Justine; Silayo, Dos Santos; Vatn, Arild
Poverty and sustainable development impacts of REDD architecture is a multi-country project led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED, UK) and the University of Life Sciences (Aas, Norway). It started in July 2009 and will continue to December 2013. The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) as part of the Norwegian Government’s Climate and Forest Initiative. The partners in the project are Fundação Amazonas Sustentável (Brazil); Hamilton Resources and Consulting (Ghana); SNV (Viet Nam); Sokoine University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Tanzania); and Makerere University, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Uganda). The project aims to increase understanding of how different options for REDD+ design and policy at international, national and sub-national level will affect achievement of greenhouse gas emission reduction and co-benefits of sustainable development and poverty reduction. As well as examining the internal distribution and allocation of REDD+ payments under different design option scenarios at both international and national level, the project will work with selected REDD+ pilot projects in each of the five countries to generate evidence and improve understanding on the poverty impacts of REDD+ pilot activities, the relative merits of different types of payment mechanisms and the transaction costs.
Assessing local preferences for payment formats in REDD+ interventions A case study of the Ongo Community Forest
(International Institute for Environment and Development, 2013) Namaalwa, Justine; Nabanoga, Gorettie N.
Poverty and sustainable development impacts of REDD architecture is a multi-country project led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED, UK) and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Aas, Norway). It started in July 2009 and will continue to December 2013. The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) as part of the Norwegian Government’s Climate and Forest Initiative. The partners in the project are Fundação Amazonas Sustentável (Brazil); Hamilton Resources and Consulting (Ghana); Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) (Vietnam); Sokoine University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Tanzania); and Makerere University, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation (Uganda). The project aims to increase understanding of how different options for REDD design and policy at international, national and sub-national level will affect achievement of greenhouse gas emission reduction and co-benefits of sustainable development and poverty reduction. As well as examining the internal distribution and allocation of REDD payments under different design option scenarios at both international and national level, the project will work with selected REDD pilot projects in each of the five countries to generate evidence and improve understanding on the poverty impacts of REDD pilot activities, the relative merits of different types of payment mechanisms and the transaction costs.
Trees and Livelihoods in Karamoja, Uganda
(ResearchGate, 2014) Egeru, Anthony; Okia, Clement; Leeuw, Jan de
This report presents results of a rapid desk review of academic and grey literature on the evidence relating to trees and livelihoods in Karamoja a region in north eastern Uganda. The review identified the range of problems in the Karamoja sub-region; benefits of trees to people and communities living in Karamoja; the role of trees in resilience building; role of trees in agricultural production, traditional knowledge of trees in Karamoja; threats to trees, drivers of development in Karamoja; tree-based initiatives in the sub-region; and opportunities for action research in Karamoja. Using their experiences in the Karamoja subregion and other similar ecosystems in Africa, the authors provide insights of the contribution of trees to livelihoods in Karamoja. Karamoja sub-region is a semi-humid to semi-arid sub-region in north eastern Uganda covering approximately 27,200 km2. It has a complex range of problems including: historical injustices, misconceptions of the sub-region and its people, poor infrastructure climate variability and change, existence of several agricultural risks, weather based vagaries, low agricultural productivity, a declining pastoral production system, increasing environmental degradation orchestrated by a number of mal-adaptations, and poor performance of the region with respect to development indicators as compared to other parts of Uganda. The climate in Karamoja sub-region is generally harsh with high rainfall variability and high evapotranspiration. The sub-region’s rainfall regime ranges between 350-1000 mm per annum. This precipitation is usually sporadic and falls in one rainy season. The sub-region generally suffers from poor rainfall distribution rather than from low rainfall totals. However, it is the intensity and the variability, particularly the existence of sporadic intense wet periods followed by drought events that has always had debilitating impacts on the sub-region. There is wide evidence to suggest that trees provide a range of services and benefits to the people and communities living in Karamoja. Following the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (http://www.millenniumassessment.org) analysis, these are categorised into four sub-groups: provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services. This review reveals that the Karamojong1 derive a wide number of herbs and medicinal products for humans and livestock from trees. Consequently, the Karamojong have high levels of ethnopharmacological and enthanoveterinary knowledge. Firewood, charcoal, building materials, gums, resins and extractives are also harvested from different tree species within the sub-region. Further, trees provide forage and browse to livestock during both dry and rainy seasons. Browse is particularly important during the dry seasons when acacia pods are utilised. The trees in the sub-region act as wind breaks against the strong winds that emerge from the Turkana plains in Kenya; trees also help to control soil and water erosion. In places where trees have been cleared, soil erosion is strongly evident, developing into gullies.
Towards 'good enough' climate and disaster risk governance: Emerging lessons from Zambia, Nepal, Viet Nam and Uganda
(Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), 2014) Christoplos, Ian; Aben, Charles; Bashaasha, Bernard; Dhungana, Hari; Friis-Hansen, Esbern
This report compares and contrasts how disaster risk management is being conceptualised in relation to emerging climate change adaptation efforts and how these two agendas are influenced by different governance systems, accountabilities and social contracts in Zambia, Uganda, Viet Nam and Nepal. Particular attention is paid to how this relates to different forms of state legitimacy and the changing role of local government in connection with a range of decentralisation processes, increasing political attention and the lure of new but little understood climate change funding. Findings highlight how concerns about disaster risk are influencing how new and uncertain forms of combined disaster/climate governance are perceived and implemented. Increasing attention from the media is also noted as a key factor determining which aspects of disaster risk management gain prominence, and which are ignored in public demands and in responses by politicians and local government.
Trees and Watershed Management in Karamoja, Uganda
(Evidence on Demand, 2014) Mbogga, Michael; Malesu, Maimbo; de Leeuw, Jan
Karamoja is a dryland sub-region in north-east Uganda. Having suffered historical injustices, it now faces many difficulties, including civil and administrative challenges. Karamoja performs poorly on development indicators compared to other parts of Uganda: 82% of its population lives under the poverty line. Its infrastructure is underdeveloped, and the subregion is troubled by climate variability and climate change. Drought and shifts in weather result in low agricultural productivity and declining rural production systems. Floods and droughts have had a particularly detrimental effect. Moreover, Karamoja faces increasing environmental degradation, further threatening crop and livestock production. Trees are at the heart of Karamoja’s ecology, providing livelihoods and nutrition for livestock and people when all else fails; trees also provide Karamoja with fundamental ecosystem services. Thus there is a need for evidence about the role that trees play in Karamoja. This document looks at trees in watershed management in the sub-region. Efficient water management may provide a large part of the solution to the current poor livelihood prospects in Karamoja. From consultation with experts and a literature review, there is wide evidence of the benefits that trees confer to communities in Karamoja. We see various options for action with respect to trees in watershed management: the use of trees for flash flood control; erosion control and waterway fixation; resilient crop production; resilient livestock production; and efficient utilization of green water -- the precipitation that falls on the land, which does not run off into rivers, dams or groundwater but is absorbed into the soil. Karamoja experiences frequent flash floods caused by water from heavy rains running from higher to lower lying areas. These can devastate lives and property, often sweeping away houses and farmlands. Ground-covering vegetation and trees can significantly reduce occurrence of flash floods. Trees allow for the infiltration of water into the soil. Therefore, this review strongly advises higher tree coverage in Karamoja’s crop fields and rangelands. Another benefit of trees is that they reduce erosion. They intercept rainfall, reducing the force with which drops strike the soil. Rainfall on bare land makes soil compact. The pores in the soil, which normally absorb the water, close; as a result, rainfall, instead of soaking into the soil, turns into runoff that often carries away valuable top soil, silting up streams, rivers and dams. This, in turn, harms the proper streaming of water. This review strongly recommends the maintenance, planting and regeneration of trees along riverbanks to control erosion. Water management focuses on availability of blue water, the fresh surface and groundwater found in lakes, rivers or aquifers. While blue water is important, this review advises that green water is equally important. Most rainwater that falls goes to the creation of biomass. Green water is especially valuable for crop growth and livestock production, since it is easily taken up by biomass through the soil. The use of trees needs to be mainstreamed in watershed management planning. Currently, many water resource management plans exist. An objective should be that watershed management organizations include trees in their planning. We advise that DFID develop capacity in organizations responsible for water management.
The changing water quality of Lake Victoria; current conditions, trends and required action
(Lake Victoria Environment Report, 2015) Okungu, J.O.; Rutagemwa, D.K.; Ssenfuma-Nsubuga, M.; Abuodha, J.O.Z.; Mwanuzi, F.L.; Muyodi, F.J.; Hecky, R.E.
The Water quality and Ecosystem Management Components of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (LVEMP) in the three riparian countries (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) have made considerable progress towards understanding Lake Victoria water quality and its ecosystem as well as effects of resource utilization and exploitation on the lake and in its basin. In order to achieve LVEMP objectives and Water Quality and Ecosystem Management objectives, in particular, a well-coordinated analysis, synthesis and interpretation of all relevant data was required. This report documents and explains the changes that have taken place over the recent decades, and provides an overview of the present water quality status of the lake as well as identifying past changes and continuing trends that may require remedial action. The report provides detailed information and spatial resolution at the regional scale to support environmental decision-making in regards to possible remediation of undesirable changes that have reduced beneficial uses of Lake Victoria biological and water resources. This regional synthesis report was written by regional scientists and technical experts under the guidance of an international consultant, Prof. Robert Hecky of the University of Waterloo, Canada, together with the National consultants; Dr. Joseph Abuodha of the Maseno University, Prof. Fredrick Mwanuzi of the University of Dar Es salaam and Dr. Fredrick Muyodi of Makerere University. It brings together data, interpretations and recommendations from three national water quality reports. A number of national and regional working sessions were conducted to enable the scientists to complete these reports, and all these were facilitated by the National Executive Secretariats of LVEMP who were supportive through out the process.
Climate Change Policy and Practice
(Danish Institute for International Studies, 2015) Friis-Hansen, Esbern; Aben, Charles; Okiror, John James; Bashaasha, Bernard; Suubi, Godfrey
This section first analyses the national policy response and characterizes the new climate change policy arena as compared with the more established disaster and emergency response policies. Thereafter the institutional landscape involved with climate change is mapped. This is followed by an assessment of the relationship between national policy and local government practice by introducing the principle of subsidiarity. Finally, we discuss how climate change is articulated or ignored among local government politicians, exemplified by a case study from Amuria District, where climate change was successfully used as a platform for local government elections in 2006.
Management Regimes established for REDD+ and their Adaptability to the Institutional and Ecological Conditions: A case of Ongo Community Forest, Masindi District, Uganda.
(Noragric Report, 2015) Nabanoga, G.; Namaalwa, J.; Ssenyonjo, E.; Nantongo, M.
This report is one of the outputs of the project “Man and forests – an evaluation of management strategies for reduced deforestation” which aimed at evaluating the different management strategies undertaken to obtain reduced deforestation in tropical forests and hence maintain the various ecosystem services delivered. One component of this project focused on characterizing the management regimes established in the REDD+ pilot area and how well the REDD+ regime is adapted to the local institutional and ecological conditions. The site under investigation is a communally owned forest known as Ongo community forest, where the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST), is piloting REDD+ activities. The investigations entailed discussions with the implementing agent the ECOTRUST, local council leaders, forest management committee members, Masindi district technical staff and the local community members.
Rainfall trends in the Lake Victoria Basin, Uganda
(Atmosphere, 2016) Egeru, Anthony
during the months of March-May and October- December; with the winds changing direction to the north ending of the lake. Over the years, rainfall in the basin has fluctuated with debilitating impacts. This is because 80% of the lake’s water input is from rainfall; as such the lake is generally described as an “atmosphere controlled” lake (Tate et al., 2004).. In that regard, the variability of rainfall over the lake both spatially and temporally is important in influencing the lake’s water levels. Research into the spatial and temporal variability of rainfall over Lake Victoria basin have been undertaken by several researches but have shown no significant trends. However, from time to time, dry spells continue to occur over the basin, leading to the necessity to show not only the patterns but the intensity of rainfall variability in the basin as well. In this current work rainfall trends and intensity of variability over the basin in the Uganda part are shown, using data from five weather stations (Masaka, Wakiso, Kampala, Mukono and Jinja). Data covers 35 years (1980-2014).
Understanding Sub-National Climate Governance: Findings from Nepal, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia
(DIIS Report, 2016) Christoplos, Ian; Aben, Charles; Bashaasha, Bernard; Dhungana, Hari; Friis-Hansen, Esbern; Funder, Mikkel; Thi Thanh Huong, Nguyen
Understanding the sub-national dynamics of climate governance is critical if individual nations and the global community are to move forward in implementing the COP21 agreement and make effective use of associated global climate funds. One important aspect of this is to understand the institutional conditions and dynamics that influence how sub-national organisations respond to climate change. This includes organisations such as local governments and deconcentrated state agencies that operate at the ‘meso-level’ between the central state and communities, in the administrative spaces encompassing districts, municipalities and provinces. From a strategic point of view, such meso-level organisations are by no means insignificant, and ideally they can play a strong role in supporting households in climate adaptation: They are often responsible for implementing national climate change policies and interventions in practice, while at the same time being accountable to the local population. At the same time, their decisions about how to interpret and implement climate policies in practice have direct and often substantial impacts on livelihoods and the risks faced by climate-vulnerable people. Meso-level organisations inhabit an often opaque ‘twilight’ area between the central state and the community (Lund 2006), where mandates and everyday actions are often open to interpretation and where public authority and ‘reach’ are sometimes fragmented, ambiguous and contested.
Acute Metam Sodium Poisoning Caused by Occupational Exposure at a Flower Farm — Uganda, October 2016
(Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2018) Nakubulwa, Susan; Kusiima, Joy; Kadobera, Daniel; Mutyoba, Joan N.; Ario, Alex R.; Zhu, Bao-Ping
On October 25, 2016, media reports alerted the Uganda Ministry of Health to an outbreak of >80 cases of vomiting, syncope, and acute diarrhea among workers at a flower farm in central Uganda; 27 workers were hospitalized. On November 1, an investigation was undertaken by the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program.* A case-control study found that working inside greenhouse 7, which had been fumigated with the organosulfur compound metam sodium the night of October 13, was strongly associated with illness. Employees who worked in this greenhouse during October 14–21 reported a strong “suffocating” smell in the greenhouse. Investigation revealed that, in violation of safety protocols, workers did not properly cover the soil after fumigation, allowing vapors to become trapped inside the greenhouse
Tsetse Invasion as an Emerging Threat to Socioecological Resilience of Pastoral Communities in Karamoja, Uganda
(Sustainability, 2020) Egeru, Anthony; Opio, Joseph; Siya, Aggrey; Barasa, Bernard; Magaya, John Paul; Namaalwa, Justine J.
Over 70% of Uganda is infested by the tsetse fly, which has negative e ects on human and livestock health. From colonial to post-independent Uganda, the Government of Uganda has worked to eradicate the tsetse menace. Despite these e orts, recent veterinary reports from the Karamoja sub-region have indicated widespread tsetse invasion. This study investigated the potential impact of tsetse invasion on the socioecological resilience of pastoral communities in the Karamoja sub-region. Results indicated that tsetse invasion is spreading from north to south of Karamoja. The tsetse transmission route emerging from southern Karamoja is perceived to be a continuation of the tsetse belt from West Pokot, Kenya. Cases of livestock deaths, livestock abortions, decreased milk yields, restricted access to prime grazing lands, heightened human-wildlife conflicts and disruption on crop cultivation have been reported. A computed socioecological resilience index in the study area was positive but low. Owing to the transboundary characteristics of tsetse invasions and sources and the associated documented e ects, an urgent, strategic and system-wide intervention should be undertaken to control the tsetse invasion in this sub-region.
Participatory Review Of National Policies On: Environment Management; Coordination; And Training
(Office of the President-Cabinet Secretariat, 2020) Office of the President-Cabinet Secretariat
Government of Uganda has put in place a number of public policies. Public policies are means of addressing public issues towards improving the lives of the citizens and transforming the country into a middle income status. Good practice requires that policy reviews are conducted to determine public policies that have worked and those that have not. The involvement of stakeholders is a contemporary principle that requires their participation in all matters that concern them for inclusiveness, relevance and effectiveness. The National Environmental Management Policy (NEMP) was developed in 1994 and its overall objective was; “To promote, maintain and improve environmental quality and resource productivity for socio economic transformation and sustainable development”. The National Coordination Policy (NCP) was developed in 2016 and its main purpose was, “To set out the guiding principles and policies for the management of government’s coordination machinery”. It sought to address the gap in coordination of government activities and eliminate the problems of poor program alignment and prioritization; disjointed and unstandardized information requests by coordinating agencies; and limited stakeholder participation. The Public Service Training Policy was developed in 2006 and the overall objective of the Policy was; “To achieve an efficient and effective serviceand professionally competent administrative machinery of Government capable of originating and implementing Government Programs”. However, since the approval of these policies, there has been no review conducted to determine their effectiveness and relevance to the different stakeholders. It was against this background that the participatory review was carried out to determine the effectiveness and relevance of the public policies.
Natural Resource Management in the Northern Albertine Rift Landscape, Western Uganda: Modelling Household Land Utilisation for Conflict Reduction
(Mbarara University of Science and Technology, 2020) Twongyirwe, Ronald; Fisher, Eleanor
The discovery of oil in the Albertine Rift Landscape has increased pressure on natural resources and heightened the potential for resource use conflicts. Central to these natural resource use pressures are competing interests over land for agriculture, settlement and industrial development. This undermines people’s livelihoods and threatens biodiversity conservation. In this project, we had two broad aims: firstly, to increase our understanding of land utilisation patterns and related decision-making through participatory modelling, in order to fill knowledge gaps regarding how the negative effects of the oil industry can be reduced. Secondly, to contribute to thinking about conflict mitigation over land utilisation and access through solutions simultaneously generated through participatory approaches. The study was conducted in four villages around Budongo forest (in mid-western Uganda): Nyabyeya I, Nyabyeya II, Kibwona, and Nyakafunjo whose area is approximately 3.23 km2, 1.06 km2, 6.35 km2, and 1.29 km2 respectively. We employed mixed methods including: Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), with a composition of 10 members each (5 male, 5 female), Remote Sensing (RS) data analysis, and participatory modelling through Role Play Games (RPGs) – with a composition of 8-10 members each (4-5 male, 4-5 female). Mapping community resources was also done through village transects. Members drew resource maps during the FGDs (and later compared with RS products): this was followed by discussions on resource use, access and conflict. The groups also generated seasonal calendars to get a sense of time and (gendered) labour resource budgets throughout the year. The emphasis was on understanding utilisation of community resources, especially the interactions between the expanding sugarcane outgrower scheme (see Twongyirwe et al. 2015), strict forest protection and the emerging oil production in the region.

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