The Legal Framework Regulating Water Rights In Uganda: An Appraisal.

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION A ........................................................................................................................ i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... iv

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................ 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... !

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ....................................................................................... 2

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 3

1.3 HYPOTHESES ........................................................................................................................ 4

1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................................ 4

1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................ 5

1.6 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 7

CHAPTER2 .................................................................................................................................. 7

2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 8

2.1 Evolution and Development of Water Rights .......................................................................... 8

2.1.1 Land-based (Riparian) and Use-based rights ..................................................................... In

2.1.2 Prescriptive/Seniority rights ............................................................................................... 11

2.1.3 The Natural Flow theory ..................................................................................................... l2

2.1.4 The reasonable-use concept ................................................................................................ 14

2.1.5 Appropriative rights ........................................................................................................... 15

2.2 Guiding Principles on Property Rights to Water .................................................................. 16

2.2.1 Enforcement of rights ......................................................................................................... 18

2.2.2 Legal Protection .................................................................................................................. 18

2.2.3. Absolute Right .................................................................................................................... 18

2.3.1 Acquisition of right ............................................................................................................. 19

2.3.4 Divisibility ........................................................................................................................... 19

2.4.1 Scarcity due population to Increase .................................................................................... 20

2.4.3 Increase in industry and technology ................................................................................... 21

CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................................................ 25

3.0Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 25

3.1 The Evolution and Development of Water Rights in Uganda .............................................. 26

3.2 The State of legislation relating to Water Resources Rights in Uganda ............................... 31

3.2.1 The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 ............................................................ 32

3.2.2 The National Environment Statute .................................................................................... 33

3.2.3 The Water Statute ............................................................................................................... 34

3.2.4 The National Water and Sewerage Corporation Statute, 1995 .......................................... 37

3.2.5 The Local Governments Act' .............................................................................................. 37

3.3 Explicit Reference from African and some Asian countries ...................................................... 38

CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................................................ 42

4.0Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 42

4.1 Granting of rights to water through a permit system ........................................................... 43

4.1.1 Water extraction permits .................................................................................................... 45

4.1.2 Waste Water discharge permits .......................................................................................... 49

4.2 Traditional rights to use water .............................................................................................. 52

4.3 Problems in management of water rights in Uganda ............................................................ 54

4.3.1 Lack of enough hydrological and hydro-geological data ................................................... 55

4.3.2 Political intluence ................................................................................................................ 56

4.3.3 The Internal Contlict of Laws ............................................................................................. 56

4.3.4 Land holding systems .......................................................................................................... 57

4.3.5 Liability of Government. ..................................................................................................... 58

4.3.6 Bureaucracy: ....................................................................................................................... 59

CHAPTER 5 ................................................................................................................................ 61

5.1 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 61

5.2 Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 63

5.2.1 Comprehensive Legislation ................................................................................................. 63

5.2.2 Public participation and sensitization ................................................................................ 64

5.2.3 Independent authorities/institutions ................................................................................... 65

5.2.4 Empowerment of Institutions ............................................................................................. 66

5.2.5 Improved government control over land ............................................................................ 67

BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................ 68

TABLE OF STATUTES .............................................................................................................. 68

LIST OF ACRONYMS USED .................................................................................................... 69

BOOKS OF REFERENCE ......................................................................................................... 70