By Mike Rwothomio

COLEIN AID, a registered youth-led Non-Governmental Organization, has formally requested approximately five acres of land from the Alur Kingdom to establish the “Alur Kingdom Climate Resilient and Cultural Heritage Innovation Hub.”

In a letter addressed to His Royal Highness the King of Alur Kingdom, through the office of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister at the Alur Kingdom Secretariat in Kal Atyak, Zombo District, the organization outlined its vision for a community-driven project focused on climate change adaptation, ecosystem restoration, and cultural preservation.

The proposed hub aims to promote climate-resilient agriculture, agro-ecological practices, indigenous seed conservation, indigenous knowledge systems, and cultural heritage revitalization. It is envisioned as a vibrant community space where youth, women, elders, and researchers will collaborate to conserve and promote indigenous seeds, traditional farming systems, and cultural identity while building capacity for sustainable development.

The initiative seeks to benefit current and future generations by blending modern innovations with traditional Alur practices to address climate change impacts, food insecurity, and cultural erosion.

Executive Director’s Vision

In an interview, COLEIN AID Executive Director Dan Pikisa stated: “Our request to the Kingdom is to support us, through allocation of a land. We are very specific we need about five acres of land to implement one of our core projects. We are calling this project as Alur Kingdom climate resilient and cultural Heritage innovation hub.”

Pikisa added that the innovation hub centers on “a community centered climate innovation hub that preserve the traditional seeds and agricultural knowledge whilst promoting climate resilience, agro-ecological practices and cultural heritage” for the sustainable development of the Alur Kingdom.

The project includes establishing a seed bank and exchange center for traditional seeds to advance climate-smart and ecological practices. It also focuses on documenting and celebrating Alur cultural practices, food systems, and knowledge, while empowering youth and women through training in ecological practices and cultural enterprises.

Alignment with National Environmental Challenges

This initiative aligns with findings from the UNDP’s 2024 National State of the Environment Report, which highlights that Uganda’s population is projected to reach 75 million by 2040, up from 45 million in 2024. This growth places heavy pressure on forests, infrastructure, and services. The report notes that over 40 percent of Uganda’s land is degraded, mainly due to soil erosion, poor farming practices, overgrazing, and other factors undermining agricultural productivity.

Kingdom’s Positive Response

The Prime Minister (Jadipu) of Alur Kingdom, Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, welcomed the COLEIN AID officials and advised the organization to submit a detailed project proposal for appraisal by the Kingdom’s Secretariat team, with the goal of actualizing a partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Prince Opar assured that the request will be tabled before the council of chiefs for in-depth discussion and a constructive way forward.

“It will be a subject for our indebt discussion, because their initiative aims at promoting the indigenous species and our cultural preservation and heritage,” he said.

COLEIN AID in the past years has demonstrated commitment to environmental restoration by planting over 100,000 trees and is currently restoring the degraded River Ora bank under the Ukuru-Pamach chiefdom through planting of indigenous tree species, promotion of improved farming practices to rehabilitate the ecosystem and champion climate resilience.

This request comes shortly after His Majesty Ubimu Phillip Rauni Ularker III, through the Kingdom Prime Minister, issued a pronouncement urging subjects to halt all ongoing environmental degradation with key focus on wetlands , adopt good farming methods, restore ecosystems, and contribute to climate change mitigation.

COLEIN AID’s focus on promoting indigenous species, cultural preservation, and heritage aligns with the Alur Kingdom’s recently launched major documentation project of its cultural artifacts, traditional norms, and indigenous knowledge in science and technology. 

The Kingdom’s effort aims to protect ancient tools, pottery, regalia, ornaments, sacred objects, and historical sites that are at risk of deterioration.

Prince Lawrence Opar Angala described the Kingdom’s documentation drive as timely and crucial for the Alur people across 56 chiefdoms in Uganda and 8 in the DR Congo. It aligns with Uganda’s National Cultural Policy Framework 2024, NDPIII, and related national mandates.

About COLEIN AID

Founded in 2017 and based in Zombo Town Council, COLEIN AID works across Uganda to strengthen climate resilience, promote conservation education, advance social justice, and empower rural communities economically. The organization integrates environmental conservation, ecotourism promotion, and sustainable livelihoods in biodiversity-rich areas to build self-reliant communities.

In its letter, COLEIN AID emphasized its commitment to close partnership with the Kingdom’s leadership and local institutions.

The organization respectfully requested that the land be allocated in a location deemed suitable by the Kingdom’s leadership and expressed readiness for further discussions and a formal presentation of the project concept.

“We would be deeply honored to carry this initiative under the Royal Kingdom’s endorsement and guidance,” the letter stated.

Ms. Juliet Piracel, Program Manager of COLEIN AID, highlighted the NGO’s ongoing work in environmental restoration and preservation as part of broader climate change mitigation measures.

Alur kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala ( Right) and COLEIN AID Executive Director Dan Pikisa after an engagement.

Mike Rwothomio is the News Editor at Zoomer Africa, your trusted grassroots information hub for African stories, voices, and updates.