Section 9: Mandate and functions of Authority

(1) The Authority shall be the principal agency in Uganda for regulating, monitoring, supervising and coordinating all activities relating to the environment. (2) The functions of the Authority are- (a) to advise on the formulation and implementation of environmental and climate change policies, plans and programmes; (b) to advise the Minister on legislative proposals and standards on the environment; (c) to advise the Minister on the harmonisation of policies of Government with respect to the environment and natural resources; (d) to support the mainstreaming and integration of environmental concerns in national and sectoral plans through coordination and collaboration with lead agencies; (e) to require lead agencies to report and account for the execution of their mandate in relation to environmental management as prescribed in this Act or any other applicable law; (f) to issue environmental compliance certificates; (g) to regulate, monitor and coordinate private sector, intergovernmental organisations, non- governmental organisations, cultural institutions, indigenous people and local communities and religious institutions on issues relating to the environment; (h) to regulate environmental practitioners in the environmental and social impact assessment and environmental audit processes; (i) to review and make decisions on environmental and social impact assessments, environmental audits and other studies or reports submitted in accordance with this Act or any other applicable law; (j) to issue permits and licences in accordance with this Act and any other applicable law; (k) to undertake and coordinate environmental monitoring, inspections and compliance audits; (l) to undertake and support research in innovations, new technologies and emerging issues on environment; (m) to prepare and disseminate the National State of the Environment Report; (n) to support the preparation and dissemination of the National Environment Action Plan; (o) to undertake public environmental awareness and literacy; (p) to coordinate lead agencies in their preparedness and response to environmental emergencies or disasters; (q) to support the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements for which the Authority is the focal point; (r) to advise the Minister on legislative and other measures for the management of the environment or the implementation of relevant international conventions, treaties and agreements in the field of environment, as the case may be; (s) to advise the Government on regional and international environmental conventions, treaties and agreements to which Uganda should be a party and follow up the implementation of such agreements where Uganda is a party; and (t) to enforce this Act. (3) The Authority may, in the performance of its functions under this section, delegate, by instrument of delegation, any of its functions to a lead agency, a technical committee or a public officer. (4) A person aggrieved by the decision of a lead agency, a technical committee or a public officer in the exercise of delegated functions under this section may appeal to the Authority. (5) Notwithstanding the exercise by the Authority of its mandate and functions in subsections (1) and (2), a lead agency shall continue to perform its duties relating to environmental management as prescribed by the relevant applicable law.