The Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has unveiled a major partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) aimed at expanding environmental conservation efforts across the Teso sub-region and parts of Eastern Uganda. The initiative, funded by the European Union, targets the planting of five million indigenous trees over the next five years.
Speaking to reporters in Soroti, ICU Prime Minister Andrew Ocole confirmed that negotiations are in their final stages. “As a cultural institution focused on the well-being of our people, climate change action is one of the areas we are determined to invest in. Tree planting is a big deal for us because there is an urgent need to step up climate change action,” Ocole said.
He emphasized that the ICU sees environmental protection as inseparable from community welfare. Although the exact budget has not yet been disclosed, Ocole revealed that funding for the project has been secured from the European Union under its greening and re-afforestation program. “We are not sleeping. We are working each day to create a sustainable solution to the striking effects of climate change,” he added.
The program is designed to benefit 15 districts in Eastern Uganda, with eight of them located in the Teso sub-region. Implementation will begin in October this year. ICU will take the lead in mobilizing clans, identifying beneficiaries, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project. A key feature of the plan is the creation of a forest corridor in the Napak belt of Karamoja, which is expected to improve biodiversity and support livelihoods dependent on forest resources.
Ms. Gianna Da Re, Forestry and Agro-forestry Consultant at AICS, explained that the Italian agency will handle the timber forest value chain, capacity building, and technical implementation in collaboration with ICU and its various departments. “The program will not only involve large-scale tree planting but will also strengthen local capacity to manage forests sustainably,” she noted.
The project is also drawing international attention. A delegation of diplomats and stakeholders from Denmark, alongside officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, is scheduled to meet key ICU leaders on Tuesday at the union’s headquarters in Soroti City. This meeting will finalize the operational framework and ensure that local communities are fully engaged before the first trees are planted.
The Iteso Cultural Union views this initiative as part of a broader mission to safeguard natural resources while improving the socio-economic well-being of its people. Community participation will be central, with local clans playing an active role in nurturing seedlings, protecting young trees, and integrating conservation practices into everyday life.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation is the official body responsible for planning and implementing Italy’s international development and humanitarian assistance programs.
Established in 2014 under the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, AICS operates in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Its mandate includes supporting sustainable economic growth, protecting the environment, promoting human rights, and strengthening local institutions. In Uganda, AICS has been involved in projects ranging from rural development and renewable energy to climate change adaptation.
Through its partnership with the Iteso Cultural Union, AICS is extending its expertise in forestry, agro-forestry, and community-based resource management to help combat deforestation and promote long-term environmental sustainability in Eastern Uganda.
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