Workshop: Strengthening Scientific Support in Strategic Climate Litigation.

  21^st May 2026
  MÉSTIL HOTEL & RESIDENCES, KAMPALA

1. Concept Note:
    

Background:

Greenwatch is an environmental law and advocacy organization committed to promoting environmental protection, climate justice and sustainable development through strategic litigation, advocacy and empowerment.
As climate change continues to pose significant environmental and socio- economic challenges, strategic public interest climate litigation is increasingly emerging as a vital tool for advancing accountability and enforcing environmental rights. However, the success of such litigation largely depends on the effective integration of scientific evidence into legal processes.
In many instances, there remains a gap between legal practitioners and scientists, particularly in translating complex scientific data into evidence that is admissible, clear and persuasive in court. Judges and lawyers often struggle to interpret complex datasets, while scientists find the adversarial nature of courtrooms alien and intimidating. The result? Robust science may fail to influence landmark rulings.
It is against this background that Greenwatch is organizing this workshop to convene Ugandan scientists and build their capacity to effectively support lawyers in strategic public interest climate litigation. This workshop is designed to bridge

Why You Must Attend:

You have dedicated your career to understanding the climate crisis. Yet, without the ability to stand as an expert witness, prepare a defensible report, or withstand cross-examination, your data risks being dismissed as mere opinion. This training transforms you from a data producer into a powerful, credible agent of change within the legal system.
By attending, you will learn how to:

• Convert complex data into bulletproof legal evidence that survives judicial scrutiny.
• Speak the language of the court without compromising scientific integrity.
• Collaborate effectively with legal teams to shape precedent-setting cases.
• Navigate ethical minefields (independence, bias, confidentiality) unique to litigation.

Purpose of the Workshop:

The purpose of this workshop is to equip scientists with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to support legal practitioners in climate-related litigation by effectively generating, interpreting and presenting scientific evidence.

Objectives:

The workshop aims to:

• Enhance participants' understanding of the role of science in climate litigation;
• Build capacity in translating scientific data into legally relevant evidence;
• Strengthen collaboration between scientists and legal practitioners and create a network of scientists equipped and ready to support climate litigation.
• Provide practical exposure through case-based learning and group work.

Target Participants

The workshop will bring together Ugandan scientists from relevant fields, including environmental science, climate science, hydrology, ecology, meteorology, natural resource management, and related disciplines, who are interested in contributing to climate justice and environmental protection as well as Legal practitioners.

Workshop Structure and Methodology;
The workshop will adopt a blended approach combining expert-led sessions and experience sharing.
The morning session will feature expert presentations and experience-sharing, including:

• The role of scientific evidence in climate litigation;
• How to make scientific data support legal arguments and making it useful to the court.
• Key challenges and lessons learned in interdisciplinary collaboration.

The afternoon session will focus on a Plenary panel discussion and experiences of scientists supporting climate related cases and best practices in preparing expert report and testimony.
Both sessions will include contributions from both local and international experts (including virtual/online speakers).

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to:

• Have a clearer understanding of how scientific evidence is used in climate litigation;
• Be better equipped to support legal teams in environmental and climate cases;
• Demonstrate practical ability to apply scientific knowledge in legal contexts;
• Be part of a growing network of scientists supporting climate justice initiatives.

Mode of Delivery

The workshop will be conducted physically, with selected facilitators joining virtually (online) where necessary.

Conclusion

This workshop marks an important step in strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists and legal practitioners in advancing climate justice. Participants are encouraged to actively engage, share experiences, and contribute to building a strong foundation for scientific support in climate litigation.

2. Modal title

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   Training Schedule

3. Brief profiles of our facilitators

Samantha's journey at the intersection of environmental science and law began in childhood, when a deep passion for the natural world first took root. That early commitment became a clear professional path: to defend ecosystems using the tools of legal advocacy.

She began her career as an intern at Greenwatch in 2005 while pursuing a Bachelor of Laws Degree at Uganda Christian University – Mukono. Recognizing that effective environmental protection requires interdisciplinary expertise, she pursued a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Environmental and Natural Resources Law at the University of Oregon.

In 2013, Samantha joined the Centre for Environmental Rights in Cape Town, South Africa, gaining frontline experience in access to information regulatory processes She returned to Kampala in 2014 and has since served as Legal Counsel at Greenwatch and Executive Director in 2019.

Samantha is a practicing advocate with Kakuru & Co. Advocates and a member of the Uganda Law Society, the East African Law Society, and the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW).

In the Science and the Law training, Samantha brings a unique perspective: how legal strategy must be grounded in sound science, and how scientists can support in dimensions of climate litigation.

Jameela Joy Reyes is an interdisciplinary researcher and climate justice lawyer. She is currently a Policy Officer with the LSE Grantham Research Institute working on the intersection of climate law and evidence, as well as a Lead on a project on corporate climate reparations. She is also affiliated with the Manila Observatory and the University of Warwick. She has co-written articles on climate governance, reparations, L&D and just transition, and the intersections between environmental and human rights using a decolonial lens.

Shuaib is a Professor of Urban Resilience and Global Development at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Shuaib has over 2 decades experience in higher education and research while at Makerere University in Uganda. He is the founding coordinator of the Urban Action Research Lab investigating urban transitions and resilience in global south cities. His research focuses intractable urban development challenges for actionable, scalable, innovative, and equitable solutions related to climate change adaptation and resilience in global south cities. Shuaib has also researched the interlinkages between urbanization and migration in Africa and works on the frontline of sustainable cities that recentres people. 

Dr. Patrick Byakagaba is a Lecturer in Environmental Management at Makerere University with over 18 years of experience. He holds a PhD from Makerere and an MSc from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. A visiting scholar at Brown and Texas A&M universities, he has authored over 30 publications in environmental policy, natural resource governance, and political ecology. His applied work spans Regulatory Impact Assessment, climate policy, forest carbon investment, and environmental governance. He serves on multiple national and international professional bodies, including the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy.

Dr. Joshua Sserufusa-Zake Kangaawo is a Natural Resource and Environmental Management Ugandan Scientist. He has a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Life Sciences, (specialization in Agricultural Sciences) (2015) of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria; A Msc. Soil Science (2008) and Bsc. Agriculture (Soil Science) (2002), both from Makerere University. With his 23 years of experience, he has contributed to development program/project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, policy formulation and implementation linked to the Agriculture, Water, Environment and Natural Resources and climate action in Uganda, and the East Africa region and expert opinions for several reviews.

Amos Musheija is an Associate Partner at Kakuru & Co. Advocates with extensive experience in litigation, environmental law, corporate practice, insolvency, land transactions, and intellectual property law. He has represented clients in complex and precedent-setting matters before Ugandan courts and has been part of legal teams advancing public interest and environmental justice litigation.
As legal counsel supporting Greenwatch, Amos has contributed to landmark public interest cases addressing climate change, forest protection, environmental degradation, and disaster-related justice, while helping bridge scientific evidence and legal advocacy in climate litigation. Through courtroom advocacy and legal advisory work, he contributes to efforts aimed at strengthening the role of science in environmental decision-making and advancing climate justice.

4. Participant's media consent

   By attending the event, Greenwatch requires your consent to use photographs and/ or video of you during the training workshop on Strengthening Scientific Support in Strategic Climate Litigation held on the 21^2t of May 2026 at Mestil Hotel and Residences, in publications, news releases, online and in other communications related to the mission of Greenwatch.

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