By Innocent Atuganyira
Uganda wildlife authority has finally allowed thirty four members of Tweyombeke agro conservation group in labongo sub county in Masindi District to set up a bee keeping project along Murchison falls national park boundary from the areas of kigaragara village in Labong sub county to Kituuka two village in pakanyi sub county.
Mr Rubangakeni Godfry the wildlife assistant warden in charge Masindi sector told Rwenzori Daily that they allowed the members where allowed to operate the bee hive project along side marchichsion national park after they signed a memorandum of understanding with Tweyombeke agro conservation group to protect the wild life act while in doing there bee keeping activities.
‘And failure to observe the wild life act, we shall automatically come in and close because we need all together for harmonious leaving including the wild life’Mr Rubangakene told daily monitor.
Mr Rubangakene adds that, beekeeping business will help the community members along murchison falls national park enhance household income and as food.
The memorandum of understanding between Uganda wildlife authority and was signed in the presence of Tweyombeke agro conservation group was signed in the presence of the buruli area member of parliament Mr Alled Ronald Akugizibwe,Mr Fred Kirya the labango sub county chairperson and Mr Rubangakene Godfry the wildlife assistant warden in charge Masindi sector.
According to Rubangaken allowing the local community establish be bee keeping along the park boundaries is further part of the resource sharing between Uganda wildlife authority and the people neighboring the machision national park
‘As we share the resources together both Uganda wild life authority and the community of labongo sub county and Masindi we are also Mitigating human wild life conflict’Mr Rubangakene said.
Mr David Byaruhanga the chairperson Tweyombeke agro conservation group told daily monitor that, they will have 200 beehives along kigaragara village in Labong sub county up to Kituuka two village in pakanyi sub county.
‘We are shall have 200 bee hives along the boundaries of the national park and we shall be training members of the community on how to enhance bee hive bussiness in masindi’ Mr Byaruhanga said.
According to Lawrence Tusimeomuhangi, the Masindi Entomology Officer, who works with over 10 beekeeper groups across the district, Masindi as a whole produces 15 tonnes of honey per year.
He says the district has supported some of the farmer groups with value addition equipment such as honey processing tanks, packing jars and wax processing machines, in addition to advisory services.
