President Museveni has told officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to put in place measures to expedite the processing of Environmental Impact AssessmentS (EIAs) for investors, Chimp Corps report.
During a meeting held at State Lodge- Nakasero on Tuesday, Museveni said NEMA should come up with a pre-category plan in order to avoid assessing every factory that wants to come on board.
“These are not new factories, they have been existing elsewhere so they should be pre-categorised to make the process fast,” said Museveni.
Government officials and investors listening to the president
The development comes against the backdrop of reports that NEMA was putting in place stringent measures for investors to get licences to build factories in Uganda’s industrial parks.
ChimpReports understands NEMA officials have been accused of using bureaucracy as a tool to extort money from investors, claims they deny.
EIA is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse.
Investors require EIAs to obtain investment licences.
However, this process is always longer and laborious, frustrating potential investors.
Minister Anite (R) attended the meeting
The Nakasero meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Privatisation and Environment, Hon. Evelyn Anite and officials from Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).
Meanwhile, Museveni cautioned NEMA and UIA against authorising development of industries on wetlands in transitional areas in the Namanve Industrial Park land.
Museveni said the wetland in Namanve Industrial Park must be preserved and that investors who were allocated land in wetlands and have not started construction should be reallocated with the aim of protecting the environment.
“We can compensate the affected factories and also get them new land,” he noted.
Hon. Anite thanked the President for his continuous guidance and support to the investors in Uganda, saying that this has promoted industrialization in the country.
She noted that her Ministry is committed to implementing the Presidential directive that will sustain the integrity of wetlands in the country.
The meeting was also attended by NEMA Executive Director, Dr. Barirega Akankwasa, the Director General of UIA, Mr. Robert Mukiza, among others.
