LICO has launched a two-year climate resilience and environmental conservation project aimed at restoring ecosystems, protecting water sources and preserving indigenous seeds in Zombo District.
The Stand for Climate Justice (SCJ-11) Project, which will run from May 2026 to May 2028, will be implemented in Nyapea Sub-county and Paidha Town Council at a cost of Shs70 million.
The initiative focuses on strengthening community resilience to climate change through wetland protection, water-source conservation, ecosystem restoration and the preservation of indigenous agricultural biodiversity.
Speaking during the presentation of the project brief at Zombo District headquarters on Friday, August 28, 2026, LICO Executive Director Kakura Emmy Kizito said the project would implement 13 community-based interventions designed to strengthen climate resilience and protect natural resources.
“This project is about standing with communities who bear the brunt of climate change while contributing least to its causes,” Kizito said.
He noted that climate justice requires greater attention to communities that are disproportionately affected by changing weather patterns and environmental degradation despite contributing relatively little to global greenhouse-gas emissions.
Protecting Water Sources
Under the project, LICO will rehabilitate and protect two community water sources located in Mundhel Parish in Nyapea Sub-county and Aluka Cell in Paidha Town Council.
The intervention will involve planting vetiver and other suitable vegetation around the water sources to control soil erosion, improve water infiltration and protect surrounding catchment areas.
LICO will also establish and train two inclusive Community Wetland Management and Water User Committees to promote local stewardship and sustainable use of wetlands and water resources.
The committees are expected to play a key role in encouraging communities to take responsibility for protecting the ecosystems that support their livelihoods.
LICO Project Officer for Stand for Climate Justice, Jackline Oweknyinga, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders and communities.
She noted that environmental interventions sometimes face resistance because of limited awareness and negative attitudes towards community-led programmes.
“We are going into the community, and we expect stakeholders to coordinate and support us. We have been facing resistance from communities due to limited understanding of community-led initiatives,” Oweknyinga said.
Two-Year Climate Action Plan
LICO said the first year of the project will focus on engaging district, sub-county, religious and cultural leaders, conducting community mobilisation meetings and participatory planning sessions, protecting springs and establishing vegetation around water sources.
Other activities will include radio sensitisation programmes, formation of natural-resource management committees and continuous monitoring.
The second year will focus more heavily on strengthening agricultural biodiversity through a learning visit to established seed banks, documentation of indigenous seed varieties and the establishment of a traditional seed bank.
The project will also include training for staff and community representatives in seed conservation, propagation and management.
Kizito said the initiative complements wider efforts to promote environmental restoration, climate adaptation and sustainable development in Zombo District.
Building Resilient Communities
The Stand for Climate Justice Project builds on LICO’s previous work in Zombo District and the wider West Nile region.
The organisation has previously supported tree planting, ecosystem restoration, water-source protection, vocational skilling, education retention, youth empowerment, livelihood development, peacebuilding and human-rights programmes.
LICO has also contributed to the restoration of the River Nyagak catchment through demarcation, planting indigenous trees and vegetation, and sensitising communities about environmental protection.
The organisation says the new project represents another step towards building communities that are better prepared to respond to climate change while protecting the natural resources that sustain them.
Stakeholders Pledge Support
Zombo District LCV Chairperson James Oruna Oyullu welcomed the initiative and pledged stakeholder support, while urging LICO to ensure that the project delivers meaningful and visible benefits to communities.
Zombo District Water Officer Lawrence Ruvakuma called for extensive community sensitisation to minimise possible land-related disputes and pledged technical support in assessing the proposed water points.
The Prime Minister of Alur Kingdom, Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, also welcomed the project, describing LICO as a close partner of the kingdom.
“It is our responsibility to carry the message to our people so that they understand the benefits of the programme,” Opar said.
Local leaders from Nyapea Sub-county and Paidha Town Council also called for increased community awareness and a positive change in attitudes towards environmental conservation.
LICO said the Stand for Climate Justice Project demonstrates its continued commitment to ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, sustainable natural-resource management and community resilience.
As climate pressures continue to affect rural communities, the organisation is calling on residents, leaders and stakeholders to work together to protect wetlands, water catchments and indigenous agricultural biodiversity for future generations.
Stakeholders pose for a group photograph after the launch of the Stand for Climate Justice Project at Zombo District headquarters on Friday, August 28, 2026.
