The KAWO visit - 28th

KAWO means Bee.

We had arranged to meet the group at 11am because I did not know how far it was from Mbale. We left at 9.30am, having done a little shopping and arrived at the meeting place at 10.15am. I caused panic as they were not ready but did not want me to wait.

We had a discussion with the group, which included a Bee keeping consultant/trainer before heading out into the bush to visit two of the four sites.

The group already had bee hives, mainly KTBs but some Langstroth and had harvested a small amount of honey. The protective clothing they had was a heavy cotton full beesuit that had cost a fortune and a set of old overalls with buttons and no zips

The road into the bush was ok , better than the main road and after 9km we came to the first village.

This village was well organised and had planted large areas of land with Citrus trees and were now starting to plant Mangos and sunflowers. They had a plan to plant crops such that there was forage for the bees all year round.

I was told that the citrus crop had increased markedly since the bee hives had been populated, harvesting 35 bags this year.

Some members of Committee of the KAWO group

Handing over Bees Abroad Training Manuals - the ones posted in january from the UK had also arrived safely.

The Citrus Orchard where over 300 trees had been planted

MUlti storey KTBs - don't know how they manage the bottom one without disturbing the top one.

Plastic bags and grease around hive stands to stop the ants.

Some of the potential beneficiaries from the bee keeping project


The second village was a further 5km into the bush along a single track road which we had to drive along with care. Making sure the growth at the side of the track did not hide any holes or old tree stumps, either of which would do big damage to the car.

This village was not as well organised and the people were poor, mainly widows and orphans.

Second site for planned KTBs

KTBs in situ but not very accessible for harvesting and management.

Members of the group in the second village.

The track home.

After the meeting I arranged with Akole that members of the KAWO group could attend the training session at his village. Until my visit they were not aware of each other, despite being only 20km apart and both keen to use beekeeping to alleviate poverty. In John's terms this could be "Buzz group"

I work late when we get back and finish the Beesuit ready for the training tomorrow. No photos of the completed one yet though.