Through the Integrated Water Management and Development Project, aimed at supporting communities in implementing catchment management measures, the initiative targets areas of the upper and lower Awoja River, covering the districts of Katakwi, Bukedea, Sironko, and Bulambuli.
The Ministry of Water and Environment, with funding from the World Bank, has distributed 25 bee hives to former wetland encroachers in Bukedea District in a bid to provide them with alternative livelihood options to drive them away from wetlands. A total of 100 farmers from Kamutur Sub-county, divided into 10 groups, each comprising about 10 members, have benefited from the bee hives and honey harvesting kits.
Through the Integrated Water Management and Development Project, aimed at supporting communities in implementing catchment management measures, the initiative targets areas of the upper and lower Awoja River, covering the districts of Katakwi, Bukedea, Sironko, and Bulambuli.
Tumusiime Peter Edmond, a principal water officer and the project manager, while officiating the distribution of the beehives on Friday, stated that they are providing an alternative livelihood to the wetland dwellers.
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“What we are now stressing is for people to change their land use. Our advice to the community is to plant crops that are suitable for the wetlands. With such projects, we believe that bee hives are one way someone can earn even more than rice growing. Assuming each of the bee hives gives us 40 liters of honey, when we calculate that money from the 25 beehives we have given out, it amounts to around shs. 12.25 million. I don’t think somebody can get such money from a garden of rice,” Tumusiime said.
Mary Akol, the LCV chairperson of Bukedea District, hinted that the knowledge provided to the communities will motivate the people to move out of wetlands and support wetland conservation.
“When we talk of the gospel of wetlands, it concerns the whole country. With such knowledge and training, the communities will also see the benefits of not destroying our environment. Sincerely, beekeeping is better than growing rice, given the fact that the government has also promised us the market. That is why I am so grateful,” says Akol.
She called upon the people of Bukedea to embrace the project and guide it jealously to ensure its sustainability for future generations. The Bukedea District Natural Resources Officer, Oluka David, noted that since most communities have been deriving their livelihoods along the riverbanks, beekeeping will be one of the best alternatives.
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“All these effects of climate change are caused by man. I also encourage other communities who cultivate along wetlands to voluntarily leave. Not only here in Kamutur Sub-county, but we are trying to engage other farmers in the entire Bukedea. In some other parts, the communities have been given fish ponds; in other areas, they have been given fruit trees like citrus to plant, which they can sell to earn a livelihood,” says Oluka.
The farmers appreciated the support and promised to use the bee hives to develop themselves and their households. Wokuti Geofrey, chairperson of one of the beneficiary groups from Tajaari Parish, acknowledged receiving the equipment and appreciated the knowledge acquired during the training.
“We have received overall dressings, three buckets, and the tools used to attract the bees, plus the knowledge of how to handle the project. I am very happy about it. Now to my brothers who are encroaching on the riverbanks, please leave because we now have an alternative to feed us,” Wokuti begged.