CLE Training: Strategic Public Interest Climate Litigation

17^th - 18^th June 2026
The Great Outdoors, Kalanamu

Training Schedule

Day 1: WEDNESDAY, 17TH JUNE, 2026.
Climate Litigation, Strategic Approaches & Remedies.

TIME	SESSION	DESCRIPTION	FACILITATOR/SPEAKER
8:00 am – 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:55 am	Official Opening	Welcome remarks by Greenwatch. Remarks by the Uganda Law Society. Statement of intent: The role of the legal profession in environmental protection and climate action.	Executive Director, Greenwatch. Representative ULS Executive Director, Greenwatch.
8:55 – 9:00am	Expectations and Ground Rules	Expectations from the participants and what Rules the participants agree should govern the training.	Moderator
9:00 – 10:15am	Session 1: Keynote Address - The Call to Environmental Law.	Topic: “From the Trenches: A Journey in Public Interest Environmental Law – Why Environmental Lawyers Are Essential for Climate Justice” Content: Personal journey into public interest environmental law: lessons from Zimbabwe and the region. The indispensable role of public interest lawyers in holding power to account. Why environmental law is not a niche but a fundamental pillar of justice, human rights, and sustainable development. A call to action: embracing environmental law as a career and vocation.	Keynote Speaker: Mutuso Dhliwayo Executive Director, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA).
10:15 – 10:30am	Tea Break
10:30 – 12:30pm	Session 2: The Constitutional & Legislative Framework for Environmental Litigation in Uganda.	Topic: “Navigating the Legal Architecture: Constitutional Pillars and Statutory Frameworks for Environmental Litigation in Uganda.”	Lynn Gitu, Extractives (Mining, Oil, and Gas) Governance Specialist.
12:30 – 1:30pm	Lunch Break
1:30 – 2:30pm	Break-out Sessions.	Trainees will be grouped to brainstorm on a case scenario, and present their findings.	Greenwatch Team
2:30 – 3:30pm	Session 3: Drafting for Impact – Key Elements of a Strong Public Interest Environmental Application/Plaint.	Topic: “The Mechanics of Strategic Public Interest Environmental Litigation: Drafting a Winning Application.” Framing the cause of action: constitutional violations vs. statutory beaches. Articulating the public interest dimension: why this matter is not just a private grievance. Crating clear, specific, and legally sound prayers (remedies).	Frank Tumusiime, Executive Director, Advocates for Natural Resources and Development (ANARDE).
3:30 – 4:00pm	Session 3: Panel Discussion	Wrap-up & Reflections	Summary of key takeaways, Q&A, and preview of Day 2.

Day 2: THURSDAY, 18TH JUNE, 2026.

Climate Litigation, Strategic Approaches & Remedies.

Objective: To focus on emerging areas like climate litigation, strategic case selection, crafting effective remedies, and understanding the ethical and advocacy dimensions of this work.

TIME	SESSION	DESCRIPTION	FACILITATOR/SPEAKER
8:00 am – 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:45 am – 10:30 am	Session 6: Climate Litigation – The New Frontier	Topic: “Climate Change Before the Courts: Emerging Trends, Legal Theories, and Opportunities for Uganda” Global and Regional Landscape: Overview of climate litigation trends globally and in Africa. Key cases: Urgenda Foundation v. State of the Netherlands; Trustees of the Earth v. Attorney General (South Africa, right to a healthy environment). Legal Theories in Climate Litigation. Human rights-based approaches (Right to life, right to a clean and healthy environment).	Samantha Atukunda, Executive Director, Greenwatch.
10:30 – 10:45am	Tea Break
10:45 – 12:30pm	Panel Discussion	Environmental and Climate Public Interest Litigation: A tool for accountability and change.	James Mutobokha, Community Representative, Bududa District. Dickens Kamugisha, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Institute for Energy Governance. Michael Omara, Public Interest Litigation Lawyer. Judith Nansubuga, Staff Advocate/2026 Bertha Challenge Fellow, Greenwatch.
12:30 – 1:30pm	Lunch Break
1:30 – 2:30pm	Session 8: Litigation as part of a broader strategy	Coordinating with advocacy, media and policy engagement. Building coalitions with Civil Society, community groups and other stake holders. Timing: when to litigate, when to engage administratively, and when to pursue alternative dispute resolution.	Emily Kinama Head of Strategic Litigation, Katiba Institute Kenya.
2:30 – 3:15pm	Session 7: Ethics of Climate Litigation	Topic: “Navigating Ethical Challenges.” Managing client expectations and maintaining independence. Avoiding conflicts of interest. Professional responsibility when representing marginalized communities.n.	Dickens Kamugisha, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Institute for Energy Governance.
3:15 – 4:30pm	Way Forward & Closure	Summary of the training. Evaluation and Feedback. Closing remarks.	Greenwatch & ULS Team.
5:00pm	Departure

Brief profiles of our facilitators

Mutuso Dhliwayo is an environmental lawyer and climate justice advocate from Zimbabwe. He serves as the Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO), where he leads initiatives focused on environmental governance, natural resource management, climate justice, and community rights. He has extensive experience in public interest litigation, policy advocacy, and community empowerment, and has worked with communities across Africa to advance environmental accountability and sustainable development.

Frank Tumusiime is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience in natural resource governance, environmental law, constitutional litigation, and the enforcement of fundamental human rights. He is the Coordinator, Researcher and Litigator at Advocates for Natural Resources and Development (ANARDE) and the Founder and Managing Partner of Frank Tumusiime & Company Advocates. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in strategic public interest litigation, environmental advocacy, and legal reforms relating to natural resources and

Samantha Atukunda Kakuru Mwesigwa is the Executive Director and Legal Counsel at Greenwatch, Uganda's leading environmental rights advocacy organization. She is an environmental lawyer with extensive experience in public interest litigation, environmental governance, climate justice, and natural resource management. Samantha has been at the forefront of strategic environmental litigation and community empowerment initiatives aimed at advancing the right to a clean and healthy environment in Uganda and beyond. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Oregon and has previously worked with the Centre for Environmental Rights in South Africa.

Lynn Gitu is an Extractives (Mining, Oil & Gas) Governance Specialist and legal professional with extensive experience in natural resource governance, public interest litigation, policy analysis, conflict analysis, and community empowerment. She has worked with national and international organizations across East and Central Africa, leading advocacy initiatives, trainings, local government strengthening, and programs focused on responsible management of energy and extractive resources. For nine years, she led IMPACT's mineral certification and due diligence work in Africa's Great Lakes region and coordinated the UNEP-supported planetGOLD project in Uganda. Lynn is passionate about promoting social justice and supporting governments, communities, and development actors to derive sustainable benefits from natural resources.

Dickens Kamugisha is a leading environmental lawyer and climate justice advocate in Uganda. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO), where he has spearheaded advocacy, research, community empowerment, and strategic public interest litigation on energy, extractives, environmental protection, and climate justice. With over two decades of experience, he has worked extensively with communities affected by oil, gas, mining, and large-scale infrastructure projects, promoting accountable governance of natural resources and the protection of environmental and human rights across Africa.

Emily Kinama is the Head of Strategic Litigation at Katiba Institute and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She holds Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and Master of Laws (LL.M) degrees from the University of Pretoria. Emily has extensive experience in strategic public interest litigation, constitutional law, human rights, environmental justice, land rights, and socio-economic rights. She has previously served as a law research clerk at the Supreme Court of Kenya and the Constitutional Court of South Africa and has published on access to justice, cultural rights, and women's rights.

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