Leyla Özay
Senior Advisor Environmental and Social Assessment
The NCEA started its activities in Uganda in 2001, performing an independent review of an ESIA for the Bujagali hydropower dam. Since then, we have been supporting the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) with independent reviews of an SEA and 3 ESIAs for oil and gas activities, updates and drafting of ESIA and SEA regulations and guidelines, and ESIA and SEA capacity building for various stakeholders, amongst which NGOs and local government.
Subsequent activities included an ESY mapping exercise with NEMA staff, capacity building for NGOs on ESIA follow up and energy transition, and SEA capacity building for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD). In 2025, the NCEA twice trained NEMA staff and various line Ministries on SEA and ESIA review.
The NCEA is collaborating with MEMD's Health, Safety and Environment Division to strengthen capacity in SEA.
The NCEA and the NEMA have a long-standing partnership focused on strengthening ESIA and SEA systems in Uganda.