The beekeeping project is one of the main income generators for the Bwera community development endeavors. Part of the profits from the sale of the honey and wax are used to pay the wages of the teachers of the local vocational secondary schools, which are free for orphaned children, as well as providing capital for other community initiatives.
Beekeeping with traditional hive type
There are currently 430 hives which are mostly located in the grassy plains at the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park with the remaining hives scattered in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Except for three Kenya top bar hives, they have all been the traditional hollow tube type until the summer of 2007. The project expansion, funded by the Lion's Gate North Vancouver Rotary Club, has seen the introduction of 40 new Kenya top bar hives which produce up to twice as much honey as the traditional type.
New Kenya top bar hives are transported to Bwera
During 2007 Partnerships for Opportunity helped to expand the market for the honey and the wax. Until then, all the honey was sold in small amounts in the local markets or taken across the border to the Congo. The farmers have now been connected with companies that will purchase larger quantities of honey than would otherwise be sold locally. The wax produced by the project is now being purchased by the Mengo Bakuli Youth Brigade for the production of candles. This partnership will create profits for both the rural beekeepers and the street kids of Kampala.
Hives arrive in Bwera
Until this spring, there was only one beekeeping suit which was shared among all of the beekeepers in the project. However, in May of 2007, thanks to support from the Apiary Club of Victoria and private donors, we were able to deliver six full beekeeping suits, five smokers and a number of other pieces of equipment. These tools, along with ongoing training, will ensure the successful expansion of this project.
Beekeeper in a suit donated by the
Capital Region Beekeepers Association
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