Services

The National Environment Management Authority Library (NEMAL)
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ORIGIN AND PURPOSE
The NEMA Library was established in 1996 under the Division of Information and Monitoring. It inherited the bulk of its collection from The National Information Centre, which was under the then Ministry of Environment.

THE COLLECTION
The Library's main purpose is to develop and maintain a collection of scientific and technical information on the state of environment both nationally and internationally, which information assists the staff of NEMA in analysing trends, assessing problems and promoting activities leading to sustainable development in the field of environment as well as making it available for research purposes.
The collection is composed of books, periodicals, reports CD ROMs Audio Cassettes, and Video Tapes. Primary emphasis in collection development has been given to the subject areas most closely related to environment and some government publications. Those related to environment include the following:
Atmosphere and climate, Terrestrial ecosystem, Forestry ecosystem, Arid land and desertification, Bio diversity, Protected areas, Water, wetlands, marine environment, Environment and development, Agriculture, Energy, Industry, Pollution and waste, Environmental law, Chemical and biochemical processes G I S and remote sensing Materials acquired by the Library are classified according to the INFOTERRA Thesaurus and are entered into the library database to ease retrieval. Periodical literature is organised according to the environmental subjects and are placed together with the corresponding subjects. Government publications are arranged according to titles.

LIBRARY SERVICES
The services in the Library include Selective Dissemination of Information, Reference, Internet Searches, Current Awareness and Materials Lending. Some limited training is offered on large groups of users on special arrangement with the Librarian. The Library also supplies a limited number of brochures, books, pamphlets, and reports, produced by the organisation to the public as part of environmental awareness. Members of the public are free to consult any materials required for reference but it is only members of staff who are allowed to take materials on loan for a limited period of time. Now available is internet connectivity where users can search from the registered databases or the available CD ROMs

DEVELOPMENTS
The Library embarked on expanding its readership through a program of setting up Environmental Information Resource Centres in 25 Districts in Uganda. This program has enabled the dissemination of environmental information to the grass root population to assist in the sustainable use of Uganda’s natural resources.
The library has seen a steady growth in the number of users since its establishment from about 60 a month to almost 450 by the end of December 2009. This is attributed to the fact that environmental issues have gained a lot of importance in the past six years nationally and internationally. The library currently carries out Environmental Information Repackaging and this information is sent to NEMA partners and all those organisations on the mailing list to ensure that environmental information is widely disseminated.
More information is now available in form of Newspaper Clippings from the Daily Newspapers as a way of capturing all available sources of environmental information.
A Media room has been established for purposes of viewing the environmental videotapes and this service is available for the members of staff as well as the public.

LIBRARY HOURS
The Library opens at 8.00am to 12.30pm and from 2.00 to 4.00pm everyday except on weekends and public holidays.
MEMBERSHIPMembership is free for all. LOCATION The NEMAL is located on the Ground floor of The NEMA House Plot 17/19/21 Jinja Road

CONTACT ADDRESS National Environment Management Authority P.O.Box 22255, Kampala, Uganda Tel : 256-41-251064/5/8 ;Fax : 256-41-257521 Email : info@nemaug.org : emutongole@nemaug.org Website : http://www.nemaug.org.

What we do
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We review Environment Social Impact Assesments, Environmental Audits, and Oversee Environmental Restoration

•Coordinating the various environmental management activities being undertaken by the lead agencies.

•Promote the integration of environmental considerations into development policies, plans, programmes and projects, with a view to ensuring the proper management and rational utilization of environmental resources, on sustainable yield basis, for the improvement of the quality of human life in Uganda.

•To establish and review land use guidelines.

•Examine land use patterns to determine their impact on the quality and quantity of natural resources.

•Carry out surveys, which will assist in the proper management and conservation of the environment.

•Advise the Government on legislative and other measures for the management of the environment or the implementation of relevant international conventions, treaties and agreements.

•Mobilize and monitor the use of financial and human resources for environmental management.

•Identify projects and programmes for which environmental audit or environmental monitoring must be conducted under this Act.

•Initiate and evolve procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents, which may cause environmental degradation and evolve remedial measures where accidents occur e.g. floods, landslides and oil spills.

•Monitor and assess activities, including activities being carried out by relevant lead agencies, in order to ensure that the environment is not degraded by such activities. Management objectives must be adhered to and adequate early warning on impending environmental emergencies is given.

•Undertake, in cooperation with relevant lead agencies, programmes intended to enhance environmental education and public awareness, about the need for sound environmental management, as well as for enlisting public support and encouraging the effort made by other entities in that regard..

 

Clean Development
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Education & Awareness
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Environmental Enforcement
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Enforcement is the set of actions governments or others take to compel or encourage compliance. Compliance occurs when requirements are met, when desired behaviors are achieved. Enforcement generally includes inspections to find information needed to determine compliance status and to identify violations and legal actions to impose some consequences for violating the law. Programs designed to achieve compliance may involve more than just enforcement, for example they may also include assistance and subsidies.

Components of an Enforcement Program

  1. Creating requirements that are enforceable.
  2. Knowing who is subject to the requirements and setting program priorities.
  3. Promoting compliance in the regulated community.
  4. Monitoring compliance.
  5. Responding to violations.
  6. Clarifying roles and responsibilities.
  7. Evaluating the success of the program and holding program personnel accountable for its success.

NEMA as a body responsible for environmental management in Uganda has the Authority during environmental enforcement to;NEMA as a body responsible for environmental management in Uganda has the Authority during environmental enforcement to;

  • Impose a schedule for compliance to all facilities whose activities are likely to cause adverse effect on the environment.
  • Permanently shut down part of an operation of a facility that is seen to have irreversible impacts on the environment.
  • Temporarily or permanently shut down certain parts of operations or practices of a facility
  • Deny a permit for an activity likely to cause irreversible damage to the environment.
  • Revoke a permit due to unanticipated impacts that may arise during the implementation or operation of a facility.
  • Require a facility to clean up part of the environment
  • Require monitoring and reporting by a facility
  • Request information on industrial processes
  • Require a facility to undergo an environmental audit
Auditing & Inspections
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Environmental Audit and InspectionThe core function of the Inspections Section is to ensure observance of proper environmental safeguards in the execution of all development strategies, projects and policies that have or is likely to have significant impact on the environment. This function contributes to the NEMA strategic objective on strengthening compliance and enforcement of environmental laws. The key expected outcomes of successful implementation of this strategy include:1. Increased self monitoring and auditing by permit holders;2. Reduced public complaints;3. Reduced water, air and land pollution;4. Increased Environmental Auditing, and permit applications;5. Increased regulated community participation in compliance monitoring; and6. Reinforced credibility of environmental protection efforts.The 4 key result areas to achieve the desired goal by Inspections and Audits Section are:1. Enhance compliance monitoring, enforcement and reporting;2. Strengthen compliance assistance for increased impact;3. Ensure timely review and processing of Environmental Audits, and permit applications; and4. Enhance data collection, processing and analysis for decision making.The core services of the section are: reviewing Audits, permitting and auditing facilities/projects, pollution control, compliance assistance, and environmental quality monitoring.DutiesChecking performance of environmental monitoring equipment;Checking corporate compliance with environmental legislation and checking the accuracy of environmental impact predications;Verifying or confirming compliance with environment regulations such as emission limits, effluent standards, waste management practices and EIA Regulations;Liaising with the Legal Section in developing environmental audit guidelines and regulations;Carrying out inspection of sites threatened by degradation;Maintaining a register (database) on auditors practitioners and audits done;Reviewing audits and EIA reports;Ensuring restoration and compensation of damages or liabilities caused;Ensuring compliance with audit and inspection requirement;Identifying areas of weakness and problems and in so doing ensure solutions;Collecting and analyzing relevant and sufficient audit evidence to determine audit findings and reach audit conclusions.

Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)
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NEMA plays a critical part in the ESIA process;

  • NEMA monitors all environmental phenomena and assess any possible changes in environment and their possible impact;
  • NEMA monitors the operation of any industry, project, policy or activity with a view to determining its immediate and long-term effects on the environment;
  • NEMA makes recommendations regarding the approval or mitigating factors relating to environmental assessments; and do follow up inspections to ensure that mitigation measures are implemented;
  • NEMA ensures compliance with EIA legislation;

Below is a link to certified environmental practitioners

Click here to download full list of environmental practioners