FAQs

All major users (either for the abstraction of water or discharge of wastewater) are required to apply for permits under the Water Act Cap.152 of the Laws of Uganda 2000. Thus, the following categories of users require permits:

1. Surface Water Abstraction Permit for using a motorized or a powered pump to abstract water or for diverting or impounding inflow of more than 400 cubic metres of water in a day from any surface water body (stream, river or lake).
2. Groundwater Abstraction Permit for using a motorized or a powered pump to abstract water from a groundwater source (borehole, well or spring).
3. Construction Permit for constructing or operating any works for impounding, damming, diverting or conveying any surface water or Hydraulic Works requires a permit.
4. Wastewater Discharge Permit for causing or allowing any wastewater to come into contact with any water body or a piece of land as per the National Environment (Standards for Discharge of Effluent into Water or Land) Regulations, 2020.
5. Drilling Permit for those in the business of drilling wells for water supply in any part of Uganda.
6. Easement Certificate for accessing a water body for either abstraction of water discharge of pre-treated wastewater through land where a neighbor has objected to such access.

Point source pollution is any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged. This includes:

• Pipes or ditches from industrial facilities
• Sewage treatment plants
• Oil refineries
• Chemical manufacturing plants

All major users (either for the abstraction of water or discharge of wastewater) are required to apply for permits under the Water Act Cap.152 of the Laws of Uganda 2000. Thus, the following categories of users require permits:

1. Surface Water Abstraction Permit for using a motorized or a powered pump to abstract water or for diverting or impounding inflow of more than 400 cubic metres of water in a day from any surface water body (stream, river or lake).
2. Groundwater Abstraction Permit for using a motorized or a powered pump to abstract water from a groundwater source (borehole, well or spring).
3. Construction Permit for constructing or operating any works for impounding, damming, diverting or conveying any surface water or Hydraulic Works requires a permit.
4. Wastewater Discharge Permit for causing or allowing any wastewater to come into contact with any water body or a piece of land as per the National Environment (Standards for Discharge of Effluent into Water or Land) Regulations, 2020.
5. Drilling Permit for those in the business of drilling wells for water supply in any part of Uganda.
6. Easement Certificate for accessing a water body for either abstraction of water discharge of pre-treated wastewater through land where a neighbor has objected to such access.

Water permit fees are paid to any bank in Uganda using a Payment Registration Slip (PRS) or invoice which is generated from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) portal by the Data Assistant and shared with a permit applicant.

During the tenure of any water abstraction permit or wastewater discharge permit, a holder of a permit pays annual fees as stated in the permit conditions for the following reasons.

Annual Wastewater discharge charges are for:

1. Providing incentives for the protection of the environment and the minimization of wasting
2. Influencing the user’s habits regarding the consumption and use of water.
3. Encouraging the reduction of the concentration of pollutants in discharged wastewater and thus enhancing Environmental conservation.
4. Funding of compliance monitoring activities

Annual Water Abstraction charges are for:

1. Providing incentives for sustainable use of water
2. Influencing the user’s habits regarding the consumption.
3. Encouraging efficient use of water Funding of compliance monitoring activities
4. Funding of compliance monitoring activities

According to the Water Resources Regulations, 1998 the annual fees charged depending on the amount of water being used

(a) Taking and using water in the range of 1 and 400 m³/day -            200,000 Ugx

(b) Taking and using water in the range of more than 400 but less than 1,000 m³/day -          1,000,000 Ugx

(c) Taking and using water of above 1000 m³/day and above            -                       3,000,000 Ugx

Annual fees for operating any works which impound water for non-consumptive use

(a) Hydro Power in the range of 10-50 Mega Watts              -            1,000,000 Ugx

(b) Hydro Power in the range of 50-100 Mega Watts            -            5,000,000 Ugx

(c) Hydropower of over 100 Mega Watts                   -                       20,000,000 Ugx

According to the Water (waste discharge) Regulations, 1998 the annual fees charged are as follows.

Annual monitoring fee on Wastewater discharge permits

Wastewater discharge permit holders pay for the regulator’s on-spot checks -                  650,000 Ugx

Annual Charges levied depending on BOD loading are as follows:

(a) BOD5 loading (in 1000Kg Oxygen per a year) of between 100 and 400 -     500,000 Ugx

(b) BOD5 loading (in1000 Kg Oxygen per year) of between 400 and 600 -     1,000,000 Ugx

(c) BOD5 loading (in 1000 Kg Oxygen per year) of between 600 and 1800 -   2,500,000 Ugx

(d) BOD5 loading (in 1000 Kg Oxygen per year) of between 1800 and 3000 -        5,000,000 Ugx

(e) BOD5 loading (in 1000 Kg Oxygen per year) of between 3000 and 3800 -        7,500,000 Ugx

(e) BOD5 loading (in 1000 Kg Oxygen per year) of between 3800 and 5200 -        10,000,000 Ugx

(f) BOD5 loading (in 1000 Kg Oxygen per year) of 5200 and over             -           13,000,000 Ugx

Permit processing is within the stipulated 90 days of receipt of the application with all the required attachments.