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Nema board was illegally constituted, lawyers say [Daily Monitor, The (Uganda)](Daily Monitor, The (Uganda) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Kampala. An association of lawyers has written to the Minister of Water and Environment, protesting the composition of the new body of the environment watchdog. Under their umbrella body, the Advocates for Natural Resources Governance and Development (ANARDE), the lawyers have asked Prof Ephraim Kamuntu to dissolve the recently appointed Board of Directors of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), which they say is not properly constituted. The board, which was appointed in September last year, is led by Gulu University Vice Chancellor Nyeko Pen-Mogi. He is deputised by the executive director Private Sector Foundation, Mr Gideon Badagawa, among others. However, the lawyers headed by Mr Frank Tumusiime argue that the minister flouted the law which stipulates that the two members of a local civil society organisation and two representatives from the private sector should be included on the board. "Our instructions have deemed that you appoint a proper board within two weeks as mandated by law. Should you not comply, we have full instructions to seek legal redress against this unlawful conduct," the letter adds. However, State Minister for Environment Flavia Munaaba refuted the lawyers' allegations, saying the board was appointed with Cabinet approval and after making several consultations with the relevant stakeholders. (c) 2014 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |