Nature, causes and development implications of ecological injustice in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda is one of the developing countries in the world that experience ecological injustice emanating from unsustainable use of natural resources. This study attempted to reveal the nature, causes and implications of ecological injustices in Uganda through the descriptive design. The target population was 300 Senior Officers from UWA, NEMA, NFA and NFA from whom 30 interviews were done. Stratified simple and random sampling techniques were used to get the 30 respondents taking cognizance of their seniority, gender and Regularity Authority of Employment. Documents enabled access to quantitative data while interviews provided qualitative data. The results revealed an existing over exploitation of natural resources like forests, fisheries, land, wetlands and wildlife. This is caused by poverty, weak enforcement, corruption, increasing population and moral degeneration which have resulted into in low agricultural output, climate change and loss of forests, fish, wildlife and biodiversity. In conclusion, Uganda is experiencing ecological injustices that are not a natural phenomenon but politically, economically and socially constructed. It is possible to deconstruct them now in order to avoid desertification as well as imbalance of animals and plants in the ecological system due to exhaustion through research, innovation, awareness, enforcement, legislation and energy development.