KAMPALA– The Environment Practitioner Bill seeks to regulate, accredit, license, and enforce ethical and professional standards among environmental practitioners.
Mapenduzi warned that in the absence of such a framework, Uganda has witnessed “uncoordinated and, at times, substandard professional practices,” which undermine environmental management and efforts toward sustainable development.
The Bill responds to growing concerns around environmental degradation, public health, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Justifying the motion, Mapenduzi noted that Uganda currently lacks a specific law governing the registration, licensing, and regulation of environmental practitioners.
“As a result, the profession operates without a harmonised code of ethics, minimum standards of practice and training, or formal oversight, and this poses risks to environmental integrity, public health and national development goals,” Mapenduzi said.
Seconding the motion, Hon. Richard Wanda (NRM, Bungokho Central County) highlighted the challenges resulting from the absence of a legal framework to manage the profession.
“The Bill will help to form a way of strengthening enforcement mechanisms and accountability. The biggest concern is the lack of oversight over the practitioners in the environment sector,” he said.
