4. PART IV: GUIDANCE TO STAKEHOLDERS
4.1
Guidance to the UNCST
The UNCST shall keep a reference file of Lead Agencies and private organisations which are
mandated to manage Uganda’s genetic resources or carry out activities related to the conservation and
sustainable use of these genetic resources.
Once an applicant contacts the UNCST, s/he shall be given information on the access procedure
relevant for Uganda's genetic resources and offered the PIC application form (at the prescribed fee).
The applicant shall then be directed to the relevant Lead Agency that is in charge of management of
the particular genetic resource of interest for guidance as to where the genetic resource can be
accessed.
It is after the applicant has obtained the PIC from the resource owner, the relevant agreements,
environmental assessment and paid the required fees as prescribed in Section 5.2 that they shall return
to the UNCST to apply for the access permit. The procedure to be followed in granting the Access
Permit is highlighted in Section 3.4.4.
If the application with its accompanying documents is complete, UNCST shall accept it, assign it a
presentation or filing date, enter it into the public registry kept for that purpose and open the
corresponding file. UNCST shall evaluate the application, make the visits and consultations it deems
necessary and shall then accept or deny the application, based on the results of the consultations, the
records of visits, and the fulfillment of the conditions established in the Regulations.
UNCST shall also, where it is deemed necessary, require the presentation of a report from an
environmental impact study.
If all conditions have been met, the applicant shall be advised about the acceptance of the application
and the Access Permit shall be granted within sixty working days from receipt of the application.
If the application is found to be incomplete, UNCST shall return it immediately to the applicant,
indicating the information that is missing, so that it might be completed.
In the event that the application is denied, this decision shall be communicated to the applicant, within
sixty days from the date of application, giving justification. The matter shall be considered finished.
This does not, however, preclude the filing of objections as are in order, according to the legal
provisions prevailing at that time.
4.2
Guidance to the Persons Seeking to Access Resources
The first point of contact for any applicant seeking to access genetic resources in Uganda is the
UNCST. It is here that the applicant will receive the application forms and be directed to the relevant
lead agency in charge of management of the required genetic resources.
Uganda nationals who need to access genetic resources for purposes other than those which are
exempted from procedures related to acquisition of an Access Permit, are also required to go through
the application procedure and to come to agreement on the sharing of benefits with the resource
owners.
The applicant, who shall either be an individual or a corporate body, must have both the legal capacity
to sign a contract and proven technical capacity relating to handling of genetic resources. The
applicant must provide information about all the persons or institutions to be involved in the
procedures of access.
In order to obtain authorisation to access Uganda's genetic resources, the applicant must obtain PIC
from the owner of the resource. S/he must also enter into an accessory agreement with the resource
owner and a MTA with the relevant lead agency as described in Section 3.1.3.
The applicant must provide:
1. detailed and specified description of the genetic resources, derived products or traditional
knowledge to which access is intended, including their current and potential uses, their
environmental sustainability, and the risks which may arise from such access;
Guidelines for Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing
19