What is a Project Brief

Project brief means a summary statement of the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project referred to in section 112 of the National Environment Act Cap 181.

A developer of a project in section 112 of the Act and set out in Schedule 4 of the Act shall assess the likely environmental, health and socio-economic impacts of the project.

A developer of a project set out in Part I of Schedule 4 of the Act shall submit a project brief to the Authority containing the information prescribed in sub-regulation (5) and Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

A developer of a project set out in Part II of Schedule 4 of the Act shall submit a project brief to the lead agency containing the information prescribed in sub-regulation (5) and Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

The project brief may be prepared by the developer or an environmental practitioner.

The project brief shall contain the following information, in a concise manner.

• a description of the proposed project, including the name, purpose and nature of the project in accordance with the categories in Schedule 4 of the Act;
• the proposed location and physical boundaries, including a map and coordinates of the project clearly showing the projected area of land or air that may be affected by the project activities, or, if it is—
  • a linear activity, a description of the route of the activity and an alternative route, if any; or
  • an activity on a water body, the coordinates within which the activity is to be undertaken;
• an evaluation of project alternatives, including a zero or no-project alternative in terms of project location, project design or technologies to be used, and a justification for selecting the chosen option;
• the design of the project and any other project related components and associated facilities, including the activities that shall be undertaken and a description of the major material inputs to be used during construction or development and operation of the project;
• the estimated cost of the project evidenced by a certificate of valuation of the capital investment of the project, issued by a qualified and registered valuer;
• the size of the workforce;
• a description of the manner in which the proposed project and its location conform to existing laws, standards and international agreements governing the projects, including reference to relevant plans required under the Physical Planning Act, 2010 and Building Control Act, 2013;
• an indication of permits, licences or other approvals that may be required for the project;
• baseline conditions of the physical, biological and socio-economic environment of the project area, including results of relevant studies and other geophysical and geotechnical studies;
• a description of potential direct, indirect, induced, cumulative, transboundary, temporary and permanent environmental, health, social, economic and cultural impacts of the project and their severity, and the proposed mitigation measures to be taken during the planning, design, pre-construction, construction, operational and decommissioning phases of the project;
• proposed mitigation and preparedness measures for potential undesirable impacts that may arise at project implementation, but were not contemplated at the time of undertaking the project brief;
• a description of climate-related impacts associated with the project, including potential climate benefits and carbon footprints of the proposed project, as well as the potential vulnerability of the proposed project or activity to climate change, and the proposed adaptation and mitigation measures;
• a description of alternative resettlement areas for project affected persons, if any, their associated environmental and social impacts, and or any plans for compensation to project affected persons;
• an environmental management and monitoring plan developed in accordance with regulation 46, incorporating climate adaptation and mitigation plan;
• (o) plan for stakeholder engagement throughout the proposed project or activity development, including details on how to address potential related grievances or requests for information, and evidence of stakeholder consultation; and
• any other information required by the Authority or lead agency.

Submission of Project Brief

A project brief can be submitted to a Lead Agency or to the National Environment Management Authority.

  Submission of project brief to Authority 

• The developer shall submit to the Authority three hard copies and an electronic copy of the project brief referred to in regulation 6(2) using Form 1 set out in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.
• The submission under sub regulation (1) shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed in regulation 49 and Schedule 4 to these Regulations.
• For the avoidance of doubt, where a lead agency or the Authority intends to undertake a project under Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Act, it shall submit a project brief in accordance with this regulation.
• The Authority may, on receipt of the submission in sub regulations (1) or (3), request for additional copies of the project brief.
• Where the project brief is by the Authority, it shall be submitted to the technical committee on environmental and social assessment appointed by the Board under section 21 of the Act.

Decision on project brief by Authority

• Where the lead agency submits comments or fails to submit comments to the Authority within the period specified in regulation 8 (2), the Authority shall consider the complete project brief submitted under regulation 7(1), taking into account the information in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.
• Where the Authority determines that the project brief discloses sufficient mitigation measures to address the anticipated impacts or that the project will have no significant impact on human health or the environment and interrelated socio-economic and cultural impacts, it may approve the project or part of the project.
• Notwithstanding subregulation (2), the Authority may, after considering a project brief under subregulation (1)—
  • defer the project brief and require the developer to re-design the project, including directing that a different technology or an alternative location be identified before submission of a revised project brief;
  • defer the project brief where there is insufficient information and require the developer to provide additional information or undertake a further assessment as necessary to enable the Authority to make a decision; or
  • reject the project, stating the reasons for the decision.
• Where the Authority approves the project under subregulation (2), it shall issue a certificate of approval of environmental and social impact assessment in accordance with Part IV of these Regulations.
• The certificate of approval issued under subregulation (4) shall be issued upon proof of payment by the developer of the fees prescribed in regulation 49 and Schedule 4 to these Regulations.
• Where the Authority finds that the project will have significant impacts on human health or the environment and interrelated socio-economic and cultural impacts, or that the project brief does not disclose sufficient mitigation measures to address anticipated impacts, the Authority shall require the developer to undertake a detailed environmental and social impact assessment in accordance with the Act and these Regulations.
• The Authority shall consider the project brief, make a decision and communicate to the developer within thirty days of receipt of a complete project brief.
• The process under this regulation shall apply to a project brief submitted by the Authority as the developer, except that the project brief shall be submitted to the technical committee on environmental and social assessment appointed by the Board under section 21 of the Act for review and recommendation to the Board for consideration.
• The Board shall, when satisfied by the recommendation of the technical committee on environment and social assessment under subregulation (8), issue a certificate of approval in accordance with this regulation.

Submission of project brief to the lead agency

• The developer shall submit to the lead agency two hard copies and an electronic copy of the project brief referred to in regulation 6(3) in the format set out in Form 1 of Schedule 3 to these Regulations.
• The submission under subregulation (1) shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed in regulation 49 and Schedule 4 to these Regulations.
• The lead agency may, on receipt of the submission in subregulation (1), request for additional copies of the project brief.
• For the avoidance of doubt, a reference to a screening report or project proposal under any law for a project covered under Part II of Schedule 4 of the Act, shall be construed to mean a project brief under this regulation.

Review of project brief by lead agency

• Where the Authority deems that the project brief submitted under regulation 7(1) is complete, it shall, within seven days of receipt, transmit a copy of the project brief to the relevant lead agency for comments.
• The lead agency shall submit comments on the project brief to the Authority within fourteen days from the date of receipt of the project brief.
• Where a lead agency is the developer, the lead agency shall not provide comments under sub regulation (2).

Decision on a Project Brief by lead agency

The Authority can approve, defer, or reject a Project Brief.

For more information see section 6 -10 of THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT (ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS, 2020.

NB: Ensure to sign in or sign up on ELMIS page (http://eservices.nema.go.ug) to allow you submit your application for permit, licence, ESIA, ToR or Project Brief.

Submit a Project Brief