Winner. Scientist of the Year 2020

Emmanuel Kasimbazi

Academic title, degree: Professor, Ph.D.
Fields of science: Environment
Research interest: Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Institution: School of Law, Makerere University
Position: Professor
Country: Uganda

Professor Dr. Emmanuel Kasimbazi is a Full Professor of Law at the School of Law, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. He has a PhD in International Environmental Law from University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa; Master of Laws (LLM) in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Calgary, Canada; Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Dar es salaam, Tanzania; and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, Uganda.

Prof. Kasimbazi has been teaching and practicing law for over 20 years. During those years he has taught the following courses: International Environmental Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Criminology, to both under graduate and graduate students. Prof. Kasimbazi has supervised over 50 masters and PhD students that have graduated. He has participated as a trainer in courses on international and national environmental law. He also has been a coordinator for the International Water Law in Africa in collaboration with Global Water Partnership. Also, he has served as an Examiner for masters and PhD theses of over 10 Universities in Africa and Australia.

Prof. Emmanuel Kasimbazi has successfully conducted research projects, such as “Exploring the Role of Local Communities in the Protection of Grey Crowned-Cranes in Wetlands in Uganda” in collaboration with the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law; “Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Energy in Africa” in conjunction with International Development Law in the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and promoted “Sound Environmental Governance for Better Livelihoods and Sustainable Development” research project between University of Bergen, Faculty of Law and Makerere University, School of Law; and “Study on the Influence of the Matrix on Species Richness in Ugandan Forest Fragments” research collaboration project between University of Bergen, Department of Biology and Faculty of Law and Makerere University, Faculty of Law and School of Bio-Sciences.

As a lawyer, Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Kasimbazi has been advising the governments, international organizations and NGOs on various aspect of national and international law. He has served as an International Consultant for international organizations, such as World Bank, African Development Bank, and various UN agencies. He is responsible for developing the Operational Guidelines for Disaster Risk Management in Malawi; Forestry and Land Use Sectors Law and Policy Frame to accommodate REDD+ related activities in Papua New Guinea; the National Water Policy and Strategy of Swaziland. Prof. Kasimbazi has published “Environmental Law in Uganda” and “Energy Law in Uganda” that were published by the Kluwer Law International Publishers, Netherlands.

Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Kasimbazi has been a key note speaker at various domestic, regional and international conferences. He holds numerous leadership positions, that include serving as Acting Dean for the Faculty of Law, and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law, Makerere University; Vice President of Association for Environmental Law Lecturers in African Universities (ASSELLAU); the President of the East African Association for Impact Assessment (EAAIA), and so on.

Professor Dr. Emmanuel Kasimbazi has been recognized as an outstanding environmental lawyer, whose work has significantly contributed to the development and implementation of environmental law at national, regional and international levels.

Prof. Kasimbazi has published over 30 monographs, book chapters, articles and working papers. His recent publications are on variety of fields relating to environment, water, soils, mining, climate change, oil and gas, energy, wildlife, criminal law, human rights, forests, health. Prof. Dr. Kasimbazi is a co-editor of books, such as International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy, and an Editorial Board Member, Soil Security Journal. He has been a Distinguished Research Fellow at the University of Reading as a British Academy Fellow, and was a Fulbright Scholar at the School of Law, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.

Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Kasimbazi has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities as the Chair of the Environmental Law Centre and Coordinator of Intergovernmental Authority on Development Centre of Water Excellence at Makerere University. He was appointed as the Environmental Law Expert on the Technical Committee of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water birds. Also, he was elected as a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences, African Academy of Sciences and Uganda National Academy of Sciences, and as a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law and Academy on Environmental Law.

Prof. Dr. Kasimbazi has rendered consultancy services to the country governments, non-governmental organizations and international organizations. He has served as an International Consultant to develop policies, laws and guidelines in several African countries and Papua New Guinea. Besides, he has served as an External Examiner in several universities in Africa and Australia.