Re-centering the citizen : participation and accountability in the exercise of administrative power in Ugandan environmental regulation

This paper assesses the extent to which the constitutional promise of citizen participation has been realized in Uganda, using environmental regulation as a case study. Even under the limited framework of provisions for citizen participation through structures of the local government system, it is evident that the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) exercises inordinate influence and control. Interviews with environmental officers at the Districts reveal that consultation rarely happened, with most rules being received from the centre (NEMA) and applied at the District level. This review finds an emphasis on inter-agency collaboration and consultation at the expense of citizen engagement