Caught Between Conservation and Survival: The IK Community’s Call for Inclusive Conservation in Karamoja
Posted on: 2025-11-21 15:55:10
KAABONG, UGANDA – In the rugged landscapes of Timu Sub-County in Kaabong District, ACODE and partners – Karamoja Herders of the Horn (KHH), National Forestry Authority (NFA), and Timu Child and Youth Development Centre (CYDC) – recently convened a community engagement meeting with the indigenous IK community to strengthen collaborative forest management activities in the region.
This engagement is a part of ACODE’s ongoing work in Karamoja and West Nile under the Strengthening Civic Engagement, Voice, Service Delivery, and Climate Justice for Improved Accountability in Uganda project.
Although the IK community pledged to support NFA, it also expressed concerns relating to conservation, security, and its survival. During the meeting, critical issues brought to the forefront include:
• Grave security risks community members face danger during forest patrols due to armed individuals migrating from neighbouring sub-counties, highlighting a recent tragic shooting of a community forest defender, which amplifies calls for improved safety and protection.
• Environmental degradation is exacerbated by illegal tree cutting for charcoal and widespread bush burning activities, often driven by non-local communities.
• Fear of displacement through restrictions on expanding their small farms and a lack of clarity on land rights and the future of their ancestral land.
• Access to social services with important facilities, including two community-owned schools and a Health Centre II situated on forest land.
The IK community presented their requests for zoning of forest land to clearly demarcate areas for agriculture and conservation; recognition of their land rights through a formal process to secure their community land ownership rights; and equity in land surveys with an appeal to be included in land mapping exercises, similar to those conducted in neighbouring areas. In response, the NFA clarified its limited mandate for land surveys to non-forest areas, explaining to the community that any degazettement or boundary alteration requires a formal decision by the Parliament of Uganda.
This engagement marks a positive step towards building inclusive, community-driven forest governance in Uganda. Recognising and acting upon the concerns of the IK community is important for environmental sustainability and climate justice.
Moving forward, ACODE and partners remain committed to enhancing support for community-based conservation initiatives, amplifying community voices and facilitating stronger coordination among government agencies to improve accountability.