Greenwatch uses advocacy as a tool in implementing its activities.
Advocacy tools used include:
Networking with Civil Society Organizations;
We believe that together we are stronger, this is why Greenwatch is intentional about being a part of Uganda’s civil society family. We are a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Civil Society Network (ENR-CSO). This is a network of civil society actors that work on different environment and natural resources issues whose secretariat is Environmental Alert. It has thematic working groups under which the actors work according to the areas of interest. Greenwatch belongs to the thematic working group on governance because most of the work we do addresses governance issues in the sector. Thematic groups are very vital in informing the ENR-CSO advocacy intervention and monitoring government performance. Greenwatch is also a member of the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas in Uganda and the Land Justice sub-committee. This committee belongs to the Access to Justice Working group in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. It is comprised of institutions, both government and civil society that work on access to Justice issues on land.
Using democratic mechanisms;
Submissions to the Parliamentary Committees (Parliamentary forum for climate change and the parliamentary committee on natural resources), use of freedom of information, laws among others to achieve social justice.
Access to information
Greenwatch in partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and International Development Research Council (IDRC) participated in The Access of Information in Africa Project (ATI in Africa Project). Access full report here
Information Dissemination/ Publications;
Dissemination of information is aimed at providing the public and grass root groups with information on environmental rights, laws and policies that can help them participate effectively in decisions that impact on public health and environment in their communities. Greenwatch provides information on different environmental subjects/topics on a pro-bono basis to individuals, organizations etc.
A Handbook on Environmental Law Volume I & II has been developed over the years to serve as a reference which we keep updating as new environmental laws and policies are amended and/or passed. An Environmental Law Casebook with recent environmental cases in Uganda and others from different jurisdictions in the region and outside in the field of environmental law has also been developed
Partnering with The Kenneth Kakuru Treeplanting Initiative
The Kakuru Tree Planting Initiative is an organization born out of the profound dedication of Hon. Justice Kenneth Kakuru, who, in 1995, founded Greenwatch, a non-governmental organization committed to upholding the right to a clean and healthy environment in Uganda.
