Environmental rights violations in the mineral resource sector of Karamoja sub region of Uganda

Abstract

It is reported that many people’s environmental rights are being violated daily. It continues to be a heavy drag on man’s efforts to advance agriculture and pastoralism. The evolution of environmental rights in the mining sector saw the enactment of legislation specifically to protect the interests of the Indigenous people in the mining sector but this has not been mostly followed. The protection of environmental rights has evoked emotions and debates especially when it comes to protection of the environment. The discussion gives the impression that there have been gross violations of environmental rights in the mining sector of Karamoja region. The critical issue here dwells on the controversy between the need to protect environmental rights even when the environment is threatened. Reference is made to the central research question of what is the impact of mining on environmental rights in Karamoja sub region? This study has analyzed the international and national environment legal regime and its implication on environmental rights in the study area. The study used both primary, secondary data and qualitative research methodology and found that the question of environmental rights violations has had a long history and has remained controversial in Uganda and Karamoja in particular. Despite this, there is need for Uganda to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which promotes good governance, transparency and accountability in the natural resources sector, respect the rule of law, amend the law and respect the rights of the indigenous population of Karamoja mining sector. Once this is done, environmental rights violations will lessen and sustainable development will be achieved.