Building on earlier efforts to strengthen sustainable rangeland management, the Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Society Organizations (COPACSO), with support from the International Land Coalition (ILC), has advanced a new phase of landscape restoration in Uganda’s Karamoja region.
In November 2024, COPACSO conducted a Training of Trainers (TOT) on the use of semi-circular bunds, a practical, low-cost method for restoring degraded rangelands. The TOT equipped a cadre of local trainers with the knowledge and skills to lead restoration work in their own communities.
In June 2025, these TOT graduates began cascading the training to community groups in Kotido and Amudat districts, with COPACSO providing technical and logistical support.
Combating Land Degradation
Karamoja’s arid and semi-arid rangelands are under increasing pressure from:
- Overgrazing
- Soil erosion
- Deforestation
- Charcoal production
- Climate variability
These factors threaten pasturelands, biodiversity and the livelihoods of pastoralist communities. Semi-circular bunds, already proven effective in Kenya and other dryland regions, offer a simple but powerful technique to improve soil health, enhance water retention and restore vegetation.
Community-Led Action
During the recent sessions, trained TOTs delivered one-day trainings to organized community groups, with a focus on:
- Raising awareness of land degradation and the need for restoration
- Demonstrating the benefits of semi-circular bunds
- Building community capacity to construct and maintain bunds
- Fostering collaboration among pastoralists for sustainable land management
Sessions included theoretical discussions, practical field demonstrations and hands-on exercises at degraded rangeland sites.
Strengthening Resilience and Land Governance
These activities contribute directly to ILC’s vision of people-centred land governance. Through the current phase:
- Communities are better equipped to implement landscape restoration
- TOTs are actively reinforcing local ownership of rangeland management
- Women and men pastoralists are building practical skills for sustainable livelihoods
- Collective action is strengthening community cohesion around land management
Looking Ahead
COPACSO remains committed to expanding community-driven landscape restoration across Karamoja. These efforts support:
- Healthier ecosystems
- Improved pasturelands
- Resilient livelihoods for pastoralist communities
Through partnerships with ILC and local stakeholders, COPACSO will continue to promote sustainable land use that secures rights and resources for current and future generations.
