Government has prepared the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) non-wage conditional grant guidelines to support district local governments to implement priority programs and projects under the sector agreed upon between the Ministry of Water and Environment and the local governments. The funds shall be used for monitoring projects for compliance with policies, laws and regulation, management of hilly and mountainous areas, forests, wetlands, riverbanks, lakeshores and rangelands.  

Article 237(2b) of the Constitution, 1995, mandates Government or local government as determined by Parliament, to hold in trust for the people and protect, natural lakes, rivers, wetlands, forest reserves,  game reserves,  national parks and any other land reserved for ecological and touristic purposes for the common good of the citizens of Uganda. The Local Government Act of 1997 decentralized powers to local governments, including management of natural resources, making management of natural resources a responsibility of local governments.   

The ENR non-wage conditional grant funds shall be used for the management of the environment and natural resources in the respective local governments. The funds shall be used for monitoring projects for compliance with policies, laws and regulation, management of hilly and mountainous areas, forests, wetlands, riverbanks, lakeshores and rangelands. Activities implemented shall range from targeted awareness creation, extension services, compliance monitoring, inventories of natural resources within the districts, demarcation of fragile ecosystems, restoration and protection of fragile ecosystems under threat, preparation of environment action plans and specific natural resources management plans.   

Quality planning is important for efficient and cost-effective use of resources, enhancing synergies and effective reporting. District Local Governments with an ecosystem, which cuts across boundaries should coordinate and prioritize management of these shared ecosystems to ensure more effective intervention. In this regard, planning should be done jointly and management measures should be coordinated for purposes of maximizing impact.