About KKAKKA Community Wildlife Association

who we are

KKAKKA Community Wildlife Association U Ltd is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of wildlife and natural resources in North Karamoja and East Acholi regions of Uganda.

Vision

To be a leading community-based organization that promotes the sustainable conservation and management of wildlife and natural resources in North Karamoja and East Acholi regions.

Mission

To empower local communities to actively participate in the protection, restoration, and sustainable utilization of wildlife and natural ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations.

Objectives

Promote community-based conservation and natural resource management

Enhance sustainable livelihoods and income-generating activities for local communities

Raise environmental awareness and foster a culture of environmental stewardship

Collaborate with stakeholders to influence policies and advocate for the rights of local communities

play reel

Conserving Nature, Empowering Communities

initiatives

Our Key Programs

Meet Your Hosts

Godfrey Lotyang

A story about locally driven wildlife conservation, by Godfrey Lotyang and Albine Loris from Karamoja region.

Before Kidepo became a protected area, our people used to hunt animals in a very sustainable way. There was no indiscriminate killing. We only hunted animals based on our needs. We were careful about not killing young animals—just the larger ones. 

But around the 1960s, poaching began. People—mostly youngsters who were not concerned about conservation—would kill the animals to sell or present as gifts to important officials. This occurred more as the population in the area grew.

But with the creation of the national park and an increase in tourism, there is now more knowledge about the importance of conserving these animals, and Community Wildlife Scout groups have been formed to manage human-wildlife conflict. In fact, some of the scouts are ex-poachers that now protect wildlife because they feel ownership for, and benefits from, the game in their area. They are very knowledgeable about the bush and how to prevent poaching activities.

Besides poaching, a critical issue that the Scouts deal with is wildlife like elephants and buffalo eating crops from the community gardens. This can be very devastating for communities and creates conflict. In the last few years, with the help of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the USAID Biodiversity for Resilience (B4R) activity, community scouts were trained on how to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. For example, they taught us to mix cow dung and grass with chilis and burn it, which elephants don’t like and keeps them away from the crops. We also use vuvuzelas and bangers (metal boxes) to make noise that scare away the animals. As scouts, we also demonstrate the techniques to travelers that are interested in learning about our work.

We found that Western technology was making our people forget about their cultural heritage, like dancing and storytelling, so we have been working hard to maintain these traditions in our community so they are not lost. Our dances and stories are important because they teach skills and lessons to children—like how they should not steal and how they must stay in school.

Dances also provide great entertainment, especially on special occasions. Traditionally, when men would return from the hunt, they would be welcomed by groups of dancing girls and women that would celebrate their bravery. Storytelling also allows us to compare how things were in the past and how they are today. That helps us to decide which traditions and practices we must keep and which should be adopted.

While reviving our traditional dance and storytelling, we have found that they are also of interest to visitors. Many travelers like to see our dances after they do their game drives. Sometimes they learn things that they take back home to their countries. We are very proud to show and share these traditions with visitors. Also, performing the dances helps bring us income. We use this to buy new musical instruments and for other useful purposes that keeps our traditions alive in the community.

Rosemary Ojambo

Albine Loris

Our Key Partners

Participating Partners

Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Wildlife Monitoring

Conducting regular surveys and patrols to track the population trends and health of key wildlife species, informing conservation strategies.

Habitat Restoration

Rehabilitating degraded landscapes through tree planting, invasive species removal, and natural regeneration, to revive fragile ecosystems.

Anti-Poaching

Collaborating with law enforcement agencies to combat poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and other environmental crimes through patrols and intelligence-led operations.

Sustainable Livelihoods

Sustainable Livelihoods

Eco-tourism

Developing community-based eco-tourism initiatives that provide sustainable income and empower local people to become stewards of their natural resources.

Sustainable Agriculture

Promoting climate-smart agricultural practices that improve food security, enhance soil health, and reduce the community's reliance on unsustainable resource extraction.

Value-added Processing

Establishing small-scale processing facilities to add value to locally harvested natural products, such as shea butter, honey, and essential oils, diversifying income streams.

Environmental Education and Awareness

Environmental Education and Awareness

Community Outreach

KKAKKA organizes interactive workshops, festivals, and campaigns to engage local communities in learning about wildlife conservation, sustainable resource management, and environmental stewardship.

School Programs

The association collaborates with schools to develop curriculum-aligned educational materials and handson activities that foster environmental awareness and nurture the next generation of conservation leaders.

Awareness Campaigns

KKAKKA leverages various communication channels, including radio, social media, and community gatherings, to raise awareness about critical environmental issues and promote sustainable behaviors among the local population.

Community Engagement and Empowerment

Community Engagement and Empowerment

Participatory Governance

Involving local communities in decision-making processes and ensuring their voices are heard.

Capacity Building

Equipping community members with skills and knowledge for natural resource management.

Ownership and Stewardship

Fostering a sense of pride and responsibility for the local environment and wildlife.

Acholi Culinary & Traditional Dance Experience

Nyangea Napore Cultural Experience

Dodoth Village Experience & Hike

A day in the life of a wildlife scout