Venue: Fairway Hotel Kampala
  Date: 28th November 2025
  Time: 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Background

On 28th November 2025, Greenwatch convened a pivotal Pre-Launch Event for the Lawyers for Environment and Climate Justice Association at Fairway Hotel, Kampala. This gathering marked a significant milestone in Uganda’s environmental governance trajectory, bringing together young lawyers, senior practitioners and environmental advocates.

The event was designed to foster dialogue, map priorities, and collectively shape the new Association into a strong, effective, and sustainable force for climate justice. The agenda included opening remarks, introductions structured discussions and reflections from committee members.

Throughout the evening—from registration at 4:30 pm to the closing remarks at 7:00 pm—participants emphasized the urgent need for legal capacity, stronger accountability mechanisms, public awareness, and sustained collaboration in advancing environmental rights across Uganda.

This pre-launch forms part of Greenwatch’s broader commitment to nurturing the next generation of environmental lawyers and strengthening community-centered climate justice movements.
 

Objectives of the Pre-Launch Event

The Pre-Launch event sought to:

1. Introduce the vision, leadership, and foundational purpose of the Lawyers for Environmental Justice & Climate Action Association.
2. Create a platform for dialogue on Uganda’s environmental justice challenges and opportunities.
3. Highlight key thematic areas expected to shape the Association’s future work, including research, capacity building, community empowerment, and climate litigation.
4. Gather expert insights from practitioners, judicial officers, and technical specialists to inform the Association’s strategic direction.
5. Stimulate collective reflection on sustainability, partnerships, and long-term growth of the Association.
6. Strengthen networks among environmental lawyers, activists, and allied actors.

These objectives set the foundation for the Association’s official launch and future programming.
 

Key Outputs from the Discussions

1. Guidance from the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)

Participants emphasized that the Association’s work must align with the UNGPs— particularly the principles of accountability, environmental due diligence, and protection of vulnerable communities affected by business activities.
 

2. Engagement with Judicial Officers

Members highlighted the importance of bringing judicial officers into climate justice conversations.
Key insights included:

• The value of capacity-building seminars for judicial officers.
• The role of moot court competitions in strengthening young lawyers' understanding of environmental jurisprudence.
• The need to cultivate judicial allies committed to progressive climate justice interpretations.
   

3. Capacity Building for Lawyers

Discussions underscored:

• The need for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially with scientists and technical experts.
• The need for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially with scientists and technical experts.
• Strengthened networks and coalitions, citing the Kitezi case as an example.
• Continuous awareness-raising and professional development for members.
   

4. Low Public Awareness of Environmental Rights

Despite sustained initiatives to promote environmental governance, a significant knowledge gap persists among the Ugandan public regarding their constitutionally and statutorily protected environmental rights. Consultations with stakeholders highlighted that general awareness of the right to access environmental information—a critical enabler for public participation and accountability—remains particularly low. This underscores a pronounced and urgent need for the design and implementation of targeted, community-centered sensitization campaigns to bridge this information deficit and empower citizens.
 

5. Challenges in Accessing Information

Participants discussed persistent barriers such as:

• Mute refusals to information requests.
• Vague or evasive responses from public offices.
• Weak implementation of existing environmental and access-to-information laws.

The Association must champion innovative and strategic methods of pushing for disclosure of environmental information.
 

6. Community Empowerment as a Core Pillar

Members agreed that empowering communities to know, defend, and assert their environmental rights must remain at the heart of the Association’s mission.
 

7. Research and Data Development

Effective climate justice advocacy and policy formulation are fundamentally dependent on robust, accessible evidence. To address critical gaps in this area, members proposed the following strategic interventions:

• Establish a Centralized Environmental Information Database: Develop a unified, publicly accessible digital repository for environmental data, legal rulings, policy documents, and impact assessments. This would enhance transparency, inform public discourse, and provide a reliable evidence base for litigation, research, and policymaking.
• Launch a Peer-Reviewed Environmental Law Journal: Create a dedicated scholarly publication focused on Ugandan and East African environmental law, climate policy, and justice issues. This initiative would strengthen academic rigor, foster local expertise, and amplify the region's scholarly influence on national and international policy debates.
   

8. Protection of Environmental Defenders

The rising threats to environmental defenders, including intimidation, arrests, and prohibitive litigation costs—were highlighted as a priority area.
The Association is expected to contribute to:

• Advocacy for defender protection mechanisms.
• Strategic litigation that reduces the cost burden on vulnerable activists.
   

9. Sustainability for the Association

The sustainability discussion emphasized the need for:

• Income-generating initiatives.
• Diverse funding models beyond Greenwatch’s initial support.
• Comprehensive planning for long-term financial viability.
   

10. Proposals for Structural Growth

Several structural ideas emerged, including:

• A clear membership categorization system (honorary, volunteer, mentees).
• Strategic partnerships with local councils, cultural leaders, media houses, and communities.
• A dedicated Association newsletter to enhance credibility and visibility.
• Strong presence across print, visual, and social media channels.
   

11. Beneficiaries

The work of the Lawyers for Environment and Climate Justice Association is expected to benefit:

• Communities Affected by Environmental Harm

  Vulnerable and marginalized communities facing pollution, land degradation, waste mismanagement, biodiversity loss, and climate impacts.

• Environmental Defenders

  Activists and community leaders who often face threats, intimidation, and legal burdens while defending environmental rights.

• Young Lawyers

  Emerging legal professionals seeking mentorship, capacity building, and opportunities to engage in environmental litigation and policy reform.

•  Judicial Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies

  By receiving up-to-date training, research insights, and practical tools to handle environmental and climate-related cases.

• Civil Society Organizations

  Who gain stronger partners in advocacy, legal strategy, research, and public campaigns.

• Academia and Researchers

  Through strengthened knowledge networks, access to environmental data, and opportunities for joint research and publications.

  The General Public

  By benefiting indirectly from improved environmental governance, increased awareness, and access to vital environmental information.

Expected Impact

The Association is expected to create long-term, transformative change in Uganda’s environmental justice landscape through:

1. Strengthened Environmental Litigation

More strategic, well-researched, and community-centered cases leading to improved environmental compliance and accountability.

2.  Increased Public Awareness

Expanded awareness campaigns that help citizens understand and assert their environmental rights.

3. Improved Access to Environmental Information

Through model strategies, legal tools, and pressure for transparency within public institutions.

4. Enhanced Collaboration Across Sectors

Bridging lawyers, scientists, activists, judicial officers, and community leaders to create unified fronts for climate justice.

5. Empowered Communities

Communities capable of self-advocacy, early detection of environmental harm, and active participation in policy processes.

6. Protection of Environmental Defenders

Better legal support, documentation of violations, and advocacy for defender safety.

7. Strengthened Environmental Research and Data Quality

Improved decision-making through robust databases, a peer-reviewed journal, and evidence-based approaches.

8. A New Generation of Climate Justice Leaders

Skilled, confident, and collaborative lawyers driving environmental transformation across Uganda.

Action Points

Drawing from the discussions, the following action points were adopted as priorities moving forward:

1. Develop a comprehensive constitution and membership framework outlining clear roles and categories.
2. Establish a working committee to finalize the Association’s strategic plan.
3. Initiate targeted engagement with judicial officers, including proposing training sessions and collaboration platforms.
4. Begin building the Association’s research database, including mapping available environmental data sources.
5. Kickstart the development of a peer-reviewed environmental law journal to support knowledge creation.
6. Form partnerships with media, local councils, community organizations, and technical experts.
7. Design and launch a visibility strategy—website, newsletter, social media presence, and print materials.
8. Develop an information-access strategy, including model request templates and a tracking system for public office responses.
9. Create a program for community empowerment, focusing on environmental rights awareness and practical tools for grassroots advocacy.
10. Identify and fundraise for sustainability initiatives, including professional services, trainings, and membership-driven programs.