The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col. Tom Butime, last Friday launched a $4 million Kidepo Landscape Integrated Conservation and Development Project (KLICDP) 2026–2030 in Kitgum District.

Accompanying the minister were Minister of State for Tourism Susan Nakawukyi, Ministry officials, Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director. Others were leaders from Local Government, development partners, community representatives and media.

The Kidepo landscape, anchored by Kidepo Valley National Park, is one of Uganda’s most important conservation frontiers. The landscape is home to more than 77 mammal species and 475 bird species. However, these are increasingly being affected by human-wildlife conflict, climate variability, and livelihood pressures.

Kidepo Landscape Integrated Conservation and Development Project Uganda, a GEF-8 child project under the Global Wildlife Programme supported by the United Nations Educational Programme (UNEP), is implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Local Government Ministry across the Karamoja sub-region and Northern Uganda.

The project promotes integrated landscape management to conserve biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience, mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, and improve community livelihoods through sustainable development and wildlife-based economies.