Related documents
- Is amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023
Uganda
Water Act
Chapter 152
- Published
- Commenced on 7 April 1997
- [This is the version of this document as it was at 31 December 2000 to 27 July 2023.]
- [Note: This legislation was revised and consolidated as at 31 December 2000 and 31 December 2023 by the Law Reform Commission of Uganda. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for ULII.]
Part I – Interpretation
1. Commencement
This Act shall come into force on a date that the Minister may, by statutory instrument, appoint; except that—2. Interpretation
3. Application of the Act
4. Objectives
The objectives of the Act are—Part II – Water resources
1 – Rights in water and water administration
Rights in water
5. Rights in water vested in the Government
All rights to investigate, control, protect and manage water in Uganda for any use is vested in the Government and shall be exercised by the Minister and the director in accordance with this Part of the Act.6. Interests to be in accordance with the Act
7. General rights to use water
8. Limitation on use of water
Water Policy Committee
9. Water Policy Committee
10. Functions of the Water Policy Committee
The functions of the Water Policy Committee shall be—11. Delegation of powers and functions
2 – Water resource planning
Inventory of water resources
12. Water resources investigation
13. Minister’s power to require records, etc.
14. Power to enter land and investigate water resources
15. Obligations on entry on land
In exercising the powers under section 14(1), the authorised person shall—National water action plan
16. National water action plan
17. Action plan to be adhered to
3 – Hydraulic works and uses of water
18. Construction of works
19. Exemption of works
Subject to guidelines established by the Minister from time to time, the director may exempt—20. Standard conditions
A holder of a permit issued under this division of the Act shall—21. Inspection of works
Where under section 18, a permit is granted subject to a condition that the works shall for purposes of this Act be inspected and approved by an authorised person, the inspection, approval or certificate given by the authorised person shall not—4 – Revision, variation and cancellation of water permits
22. Suspension or variation of a water permit
23. Quantification for a water permit
The director may specify the quantity of water that may be taken under a permit where the permit does not specify the quantity.24. Duration of a water permit
25. Cancellation of a permit
The director may cancel a water permit where in his or her opinion the holder of a water permit has—26. Cancellation or variation of a permit for a public purpose
27. Variation of a water permit upon application of the holder
On the application of the holder of a water permit, the director may vary the permit or any condition attached to a permit.5 – Waste discharge permits
28. Declaration of prohibited waste by the Minister
29. Application for a waste discharge permit
30. Reference of permits to other authorities
31. Prohibition of pollution
6 – Miscellaneous provisions for Part II
32. Charges and fees
33. Damage caused by the Minister etc. to be compensated
34. Register of permits
35. Prescribed guidelines
The Minister may, on the advice of the Water Policy Committee, from time to time prescribe guidelines to be followed by the director, authorised person or public authority while exercising their powers under this Part of the Act.36. Easements
37. Inspection of land in relation to water use
An authorised person may enter land for purposes of—38. General appeals
39. Offences
40. Penalties
41. Protection from liabilities
Except as expressly provided under this Part of the Act, the Minister, director or authorised officer shall not be personally liable for any act done or omission made in good faith in the exercise of the functions and duties under this Part of the Act.42. Transitional period and existing works and permits
43. Decision to be in regard to objectives
While exercising his or her powers and function under this Act, the Minister, director, authorised person or any other person shall have regard to—44. Director’s power to give direction
Part III – Water supply and sewerage
7 – Water and sewerage areas and authorities, and user groups and associations
45. Declaration of water and sewerage areas
46. Appointment of water or sewerage authorities
47. Functions of water and sewerage authorities
48. Performance contracts
49. Service discretionary
The supply of any services by an authority to any person shall be a discretion of the authority; but where the authority chooses to supply services, the water or other service quality shall be that required by regulations or by a performance contract with the authority.Water user groups and associations
50. Water user groups and water and sanitation committee
51. Water user association
52. Associations and committees to work under director
8 – Water supply
Supply for private and public purposes
53. Construction of water works
54. Recovery of capital costs
55. Declaration of completed water supplies
56. Requiring owner to connect to works
57. Authority to supply water by measure or otherwise
A water authority may supply water to any person or land by measure or in any other manner, subject to terms and conditions that the authority may determine or as may be prescribed by the Minister.58. Metering
59. Testing meters
60. Authority to erect hydrants and standpipes
Water restrictions
61. Water restrictions
9 – Public and private sewerage works
62. Construction of sewerage works
63. Declaration of completed sewerage works
64. Connections and work requirements within a sewerage area
After the declaration of a sewerage area, no building shall be erected or reerected unless it is connected to the sewerage authority’s works, and all sewerage work on the land shall be constructed with the approval of the authority in conformity with the code of workmanship that may be prescribed.65. Application for the construction of a private sewer
66. Incorporation with public sewerage system
67. Proper construction and operation
10 – Trade waste agreements
68. Declaration of prohibited waste by an authority
69. Trade waste agreements
11 – Standards of workmanship
70. Codes of workmanship
71. Power to conduct training courses for plumbers and drainers
The director may, in association with any other body—12 – General powers of authorities
72. Execution of works on request
73. Notice to repair
74. Notice of contravention
75. Power to enter land for reading meter, etc.
76. Powers to undertake works
Subject to this Act, the action plan, or the terms of any water permit or other permit which may be required under Part II of this Act, an authority may—77. Land and works to vest in authority
78. Abandonment of works
An authority shall not abandon any of its works without the Minister’s approval.79. Power to stop traffic
80. Works on roads
81. Protected zones
Subject to section 91, an authority may—82. Restriction or discontinuation of water supply
83. Power to enter land and take action
84. Power to acquire land
85. Power to deal with land
An authority may, in the performance of its functions—86. Notice of intention to affect works
Where an authority intends to do anything that will affect the works of another public authority, it shall give notice to that other public authority—13 – Commercial powers and financial provisions
87. Application of sections 88, 89 and 90
The Minister may authorise an authority to exercise powers under sections 88, 89 and 90 on such conditions as he or she may see fit.88. Authority’s contracts
89. Authority’s commercial ventures
An authority may, subject to section 87—90. Industrial property
An authority may, subject to section 87—91. Compensation to be paid
92. Cost of relocation or reconstruction
93. Compensation to the authority
If damage occurs to any works of an authority as a consequence of the commission of an offence under this Act, the court may, in addition to any penalty, order the offender to compensate the authority as the court may think fit.94. Rates, charges and fees
95. Recovery of outstanding rates, etc.
14 – Miscellaneous for Part III
96. Supply outside water supply areas
97. Supply by certain persons prohibited
No person within a water supply area and no person supplied with water under this Act may supply water to any other person or cause or permit any other person to take water except—98. Unlawful taking of water
99. Interference with works
100. Tampering with works
101. Structures not to be put on land, etc.
102. Trees, crops and shrubs
Part IV – General and miscellaneous
103. Obstruction of an officer
104. Offences and penalties
105. Inspection of authorities
106. Protection of authorities and officers
107. Regulations
History of this document
28 July 2023 amendment not yet applied
31 December 2000 this version
Consolidation
07 April 1997
Commenced