Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development is the inspiration behind the establishment of our organization. We believe that environmental rights can be better exercised when people have access to information, can participate in decisions that affect their surroundings and have access to justice incase their rights are violated. Greenwatch exists to ensure that every individual in Uganda knows that they have environmental rights and these rights can be fully exercised through access to information, justice and public participation. As an agricultural based country we are highly dependent on our environment therefore we must ensure that we use our natural resources in a sustainable manner not only for our generation but for the future generation as well.
Three years after the Rio Declaration, Uganda birthed its first progressive constitution. Article 39 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides for the right to a clean and healthy environment. It is our vision that every Ugandan enjoys that right and this is why we continue to work through advocacy, training and promoting the enforcement of environmental rights.
Our achievements so far
In the last 29 years, Greenwatch with the support of our various partners has carried out research and has trained judicial officers, law enforcement officers, journalists, government officials and lawyers on environmental rights, enforcement of these rights and various environmental issues. As a result of our research we have published handbooks on environmental law in Uganda Volume I and II and a case book on environmental law.
We have been at the forefront of groundbreaking environmental public interest litigation such as the famous ‘chimpanzee case’, “ kaveera case” and the “pangolin case”. We have worked with local government and community leaders to sensitize communities on their environmental rights. We have also been a part of civil society campaigns such as the save Mabira campaign.
Partners
