EIA is a process used to predict the environmental consequences of proposed projects, activities or actions of development. EIA should be conducted before the commencement of a project to study the possible impact that a proposed project or activity may have on the environment and hence eliminate, reduce or avoid adverse impacts and costs that would be met after damage is inflicted by either redesigning the project or instituting mitigation measures. The concept of EIA is incorporated in different legislation, which includes the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the National Environment Statute, the Water statute, Wildlife statute, to mention but a few. Some pieces of legislation were implemented in a way that does not promote an in- depth assessment of environmental issues in planning although they provide some opportunities that incorporate environmental considerations into development. The Third schedule to the National Environmental Statute (NES) and the 1st Annex to these Guidelines lays out the developmental activities or projects for which an EIA is a prerequisite. The NES provides for public input in the EIA process and environmental audit through the right to participate and the right to bring actions to discontinue or prevent an act with effects that are harmful to the environment. It also empowers the Local Environmental Committees to take action to redress environmental concerns. NEMA adopted Guidelines regarding the EIA process in 1997 which include the form and content of EIAs, how an EIA should be carried, public participation, post assessment audits and Environmental Impact Statements. The Guidelines establish three major phases through which the EIA should be conducted namely; the Screening phase, the environmental impact study phase and thirdly, the decision making phase. The Screening phase is the preliminary assessment whose objective is to determine if a proposed project or activity will or will not have a significant impact on the environment and whether the adverse impacts have mitigation measures which can readily be incorporated into the environmental impact review. If such measures can not be readily identified then a detailed environmental impact study will be conducted. The second phase (environmental impact study) deals with the identification of possible impacts and involves a lot of consultation with the public generally and the communities to be affected by the proposed project. It also involves undertaking a detailed description of the existing environment and the activities of the locals resident in the area to be developed. Public involvement is crucial as it gives those who will be affected by the proposed development an opportunity to present evidence about potential consequences of a project and make contributions and suggestions on ways to minimize such adverse impacts. The third phase is the decision making stage during which a decision to either approve or reject a proposed project is reached. The developer will be allowed to proceed with implementing the project once it is approved by the concerned authorities. The EIA Regulations of 1998 require of the developer to prepare a project brief stating the nature of the project, its area of land and the kinds of activities that are to be undertaken during and after the development of the project. It is also required of the developer to carry out an evaluation or audit of the project to address issues set out in the EIA.

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