Our Inspiration: Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration
At Greenwatch, we are inspired by Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, which emphasizes that environmental rights are best exercised when people have access to information, can participate in decisions that affect their environment, and have access to justice when these rights are violated. We are driven by the belief that every individual in Uganda has the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and we exist to ensure that this right is both known and fully exercised.
As an agriculture-based country, Uganda depends heavily on its natural resources, making sustainable use of the environment essential for our generation and future generations. Greenwatch is committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge, tools, and avenues to protect their environmental rights, promoting accountability and responsible stewardship of our shared natural heritage.
Our Commitment to Environmental Rights
Three years after the Rio Declaration, Uganda adopted its first progressive Constitution, enshrining environmental protection as a fundamental right. Article 39 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda guarantees the right to a clean and healthy environment. Guided by this vision, Greenwatch works tirelessly to ensure that every Ugandan enjoys this right through advocacy, training, and the promotion and enforcement of environmental laws and policies. We believe that a healthy environment is a cornerstone of sustainable development, justice, and good governance, and we remain steadfast in our mission to create a greener, fairer Uganda.
Our Achievements
Over the past 29 years, Greenwatch, with the invaluable support of our partners, has made significant strides in advancing environmental rights and justice in Uganda. Our initiatives have spanned research, capacity-building, and public advocacy, all aimed at fostering a sustainable and just environment for current and future generations.
Training and Capacity Building
We have successfully trained judicial officers, law enforcement personnel, journalists, government officials, and lawyers on environmental rights, enforcement mechanisms, and various pressing environmental issues. Through these efforts, we have strengthened institutional capacity to safeguard environmental rights and promote sustainable development across sectors.
Publications and Knowledge Sharing
Our research efforts have culminated in the publication of key resources, including:
Environmental Law in Uganda – Volume I and II
A Case Book on Environmental Law
These handbooks and casebooks provide vital reference materials for legal practitioners, scholars, and stakeholders working to enforce environmental law and policy.
Environmental Public Interest Litigation
Greenwatch has been at the forefront of landmark public interest litigation that has shaped environmental jurisprudence in Uganda. Notable cases include:
The Chimpanzee Case – A pioneering case on wildlife protection.
The Kaveera Case – Advocating for the regulation and prohibition of plastic bag use to combat environmental pollution.
The Pangolin Case – Defending the protection of endangered species under international and national law.
These cases have set legal precedents and raised public awareness about environmental conservation and rights enforcement.
Community Engagement and Sensitization
We have worked closely with local governments and community leaders to sensitize communities about their environmental rights and the importance of sustainable resource management. By empowering local actors, we foster grassroots movements for environmental protection and stewardship.
Collaborative Campaigns
As an active member of civil society, Greenwatch has been a critical partner in national advocacy efforts, including the celebrated Save Mabira Campaign, which mobilized public support to protect Uganda’s Mabira Forest from deforestation.
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
