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Background 1.1 "The environmental crises of Africa are among the gravest in the world. The Continent is suffering from population growth of 3 per cent per year, which is creating pressures on its natural resources and resulting in them being used in an unsustainable way. Forests are being lost, primarily to agricultural encroachment. The lack of proper collection, disposal and management of industrial and domestic solid wastes has become hazardous in many major African Cities. Misuse or wastage of scarce economic resources has resulted largely through implementation of non-sustainable projects and programs; nonexistent or poorly enforced legislation on property rights and environmental protection, poor institutions to plan and manage resources in a sustainable manner, uneconomic pricing systems, etc. 1.2 In general, many of the environmental problems in the continent are rooted in inefficient socio-economic policies, which largely failed to cater for environmental objectives. It was in recognition of this that, since late 1980s, environmental concerns have become center stage in development agenda of NGOs and civil societies, multilateral and bilateral donors, of most African governments. 1.3 Uganda is a country rich in bio-diversity and was once described by Winston Churchill as "the Pearl of Africa". Where as the country's beauty is impeccable, mans ignorance and selfish motives are turning this beautiful country into a nightmare. Uganda is among six African countries regarded as internationally important for bio-diversity (Biodiversity Hotspots). In spite of this richness, degradation and actual extinction of species has reached critical levels raising the concern of scientists, government and the international community. 1.4 The main environmental concerns in Uganda include: 1. Land Degradation 2. Deforestation 3. Degradation of wetlands 4. Lake shores and river banks degradation 5. Industrial pollutions 6. Poor physical planning 7. Poor solid waste management 8. Poor fishing methods 9. Poor health and sanitation. Swamps have been reclaimed, forests have been destroyed, terraces have been dug and soil erosion enhanced. Industrialization and manufacturing of plastic bags, misuse of existing natural resources (including indiscriminate logging of forests for firewood/charcoal and indiscriminate fishing &endash; sometimes with the use of unlawful methods like fish poisoning) and poor waste management are slowly but surely destroying the countryside and causing serious climatic changes which if not curtailed will sooner than later contribute to the extension of the Sahara desert down south with all the negative underlying consequences.