LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORKS MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSITION INITIATIVES IN UGANDA

Uganda, like many other nations vulnerable to climate change, has undertaken various legal and policy initiatives aimed at mitigating its adverse effects. This paper examines the legal framework mitigating climate change in Uganda, analyzing its implications for the country's broader transition initiatives toward sustainable and low-carbon development. In recent years, Uganda has enacted key laws and policies such as the National Climate Change Act (2021), the National Environment Act (2019), and the Renewable Energy Policy, which collectively aim to enhance climate resilience, promote environmental justice, and align with international climate obligations such as the Paris Agreement. However, questions remain about the effectiveness, accessibility, and enforcement of these legal instruments. Drawing parallels with other contexts such as Kenya, where environmental defenders face significant threats despite an elaborate legal framework, this paper explores whether Uganda’s legal and policy tools are sufficiently robust to protect communities, promote climate justice, and guide a just transition. Challenges such as limited institutional capacity, weak enforcement mechanisms, and low public awareness of climate-related rights and duties are discussed. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for strengthening Uganda’s legal framework to ensure inclusive, participatory, and effective climate action that leaves no one behind.