The Kabarole Beekeepers’ Association (KBA)
KBA is a registered non-governmental organisation in Uganda consisting of over 400 beekeepers in Kabarole district, in the west of the country in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. It was founded in 1991 with the purpose of bringing together beekeepers in the region to share information, experience and training, and to commonly market bee products.
shop in Fort Portal
There is a centre with a small shop in Fort Portal where beekeeping equipment, honey and other bee products, such as beeswax candles, honey wine, propolis are being processed, packed and marketed. All profits from the shop go back to the KBA for extension training and further marketing.
practical experience and local knowledge
The members have years of practical experience combined with local knowledge, and simply lacked resources to improve their hives and raise productivity. Hives Save Lives have provided them with 100 frame hives that have been distributed to 5 of their most experienced members. Within 6 weeks of siting the hives, 90% were colonised, and we are hoping that we will be able to provide them with a further 400 hives for distribution to other members over the next 12 months.
Executive Director, Adolph Bagonza.
In the meantime, their Executive Director, Adolph Bagonza (pictured here with some of the produce from the KBA shop) has assisted us with training other groups, based on his experience both as a beekeeper and as the driving force behind the association. We have also employed a field officer from the ranks of the association, who is responsible for providing extension services to all the recipients of HSLA hives in the district.