Bee venom: Earn while conserving forests

Katenta Apuuli (in coat) displays a bee venom collector to communities around Matiri forest reserve in Kyenjojo District. PHOTO BY FELIX BASIIME 

Adolf Bagonza started in a simple way as a beekeeper in Kabarole District 30 years ago, but eventually went for further training.

SUNDAY JANUARY 22 2017

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Farming/Bee-venom--Earn-while-conserving-forests/689860-3781616-13w0al3/index.html

In Summary

·         Bagonza says they already have the technology and the Korean government offered 50 per cent of their technology up to producing of injectable drugs, creams and even capsules. “We have the capacity of reaching there. But even without that, we can export the at a very good price to Korea although it costs more in the European market. However, it is not easy to get certification” Bagonza says.

·         The association wants government to allow the members to set up thousands of bee hives in Matiri forest reserve [in Kyenjojo District] for commercial bee keeping.

By Felix Basiime

Collecting bee venom, a highly demanded hive product can enable communities earn while conserving forests, writes

Adolf Bagonza started in a simple way as a beekeeper in Kabarole District 30 years ago, but eventually went for further training. He is now a trainer and researcher, who has found a way to conserve forests better while earning more. He connects beekeeping and conservation for commercial and health ventures.

Through his experience, he has found that when forests are gone, there will be no more apiaries.
The rate of deforestation in Kyenjojo and Kibaale districts is very high despite government efforts through various stakeholders including National Forest Authority (NFA).
“The moment these forests are gone there would be no more bees” observes Bagonza, the chairman Kabarole Beekeepers’ Association.

He says a way to end deforestation is for the locals to engage in beekeeping in the forest reserves so that they can gain financially and do away with cutting the forests.
“I would engage the beekeepers in these forests as I collect the bee venom and for them they gain in selling the honey,” he says.

“Rwenzori region has the best honey in the world, organic honey” observes Katenta Apuuli, a former ambassador, and now a member of the association.
It also carries a research in curing several diseases by using the bee venom.

The research
“I work with seven doctors who saw that bee venom can handle viral infections, cancer, flue, coughs, fibroids and others, It has worked on athritis and other many other complicated diseases,” he says. “It is now five years and we have been trying it and seen it can work”.
He says they lack a machine called a bee venom purifier. “If we could purify the bee venom, then we could have it in a clear form, which could be dissolved in clean water to make an injectable drug”.

Bagonza says they already have the technology and the Korean government offered 50 per cent of their technology up to producing of injectable drugs, creams and even capsules. “We have the capacity of reaching there. But even without that, we can export the at a very good price to Korea although it costs more in the European market. However, it is not easy to get certification” Bagonza says.

The association wants government to allow the members to set up thousands of bee hives in Matiri forest reserve [in Kyenjojo District] for commercial bee keeping. 
He adds, “We want to do commercial bee keeping where every beekeeper can set hundreds of bee hives and harvest kilogrammes of bee venom, hundreds of kilograms of honey, pollen, propolis and others and get millions every year and improve our livelihoods.”
Currently, there are five members are involved in bee venom production and they are able to collect 100 gms of bee venom every month.

Challenges
The association identifies two main challenges: An area to set beehives and work on them without disturbance. “Because when we set machines, bees become aroused and they can attack livestock and people,” Bagonza explains. 
The other is capital to buy equipment that they may not afford. This includes bee venom purifier and the harvesting machines. “We want very many; if we can have the purifier and other machines then we can be able to produce enough venom for export market,” he says. 
Bee extractor is Shs3m while the bee venom purifier is Shs150m.
They also want government to come in and do more research and scientific back up.
Eventually, under a Memorandum of Understanding, National Forest Authority allowed the beekeepers’ association to carry out activities in Matiri forest by mobilising the neighburing communities in their programmes.

The product

Since the mid-1950s, the electric shock method has been used to stimulate the bees to sting. The collector frame is usually placed at the entrance of the hive and connected to a device which supplies electrical impulses.
The collector frame is made from wood or plastic and holds a wire grid. Underneath the wires is a glass sheet which can be covered with a plastic or rubber material to avoid contamination of the venom. During collection, bees come in contact with the wire grid and receive a mild electric shock.

They sting the surface of the collector sheet as they see this to be the source of danger.
The venom is then deposited between the glass and the protective material where it dries and is later scraped off.
Honey bee venom is a colourless liquid. After drying, it is a white powder-like material if protected from oxidation. If it is not protected, oxidation will change the colour from white to brownish-yellow. Changes caused by oxidation of certain components of the venom may decrease its healing effect.

There are different kinds of venom such as: pure whole dried, whole dried and freeze-dried (lyophilised) bee venom. Pure whole dried bee venom is the purest venom. It is white in colour (often it is snow white), not contaminated with foreign materials and colourless when it is used in a solution.
If bee venom is protected from moisture and light it can be stored for five years or more.

Source: ibiblio.org

Local accounts on Kasese killings turn into blame game

Rwenzururu palace in flames after the attack. 

A probe by MPs into the clashes between a joint military force and the Rwenzururu royal guards that left at least 100 people dead on November 27 degenerated into a blame game, with supporters of rival parties accusing one another of inflaming the situation

TUESDAY DECEMBER 13 2016

(http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Local-accounts-on--Kasese-killings-turn-into-blame-game/688334-3485162-ehiali/index.html)

In Summary

Accusations. NRM ruling party supporters accused opposition leaders and supporters of orchestrating the clashes, while opposition supporters threw the blame back to the government

By FELIX BASIIME & MORIS MUMBERE

Kasese.

A probe by MPs into the clashes between a joint military force and the Rwenzururu royal guards that left at least 100 people dead on November 27 degenerated into a blame game, with supporters of rival parties accusing one another of inflaming the situation.

MPs on the Defence Committee of Parliament, who ended their two-day fact-finding tour in Kasese yesterday, heard mostly one-sided tales from the residents, who accused people they called “opposition supporters” of intimidating them from testifying.

The MPs led by Mityana District MP Judith Nabakooba had to supply pieces of paper for some residents who said they feared to speak openly to write down their submissions.

Perhaps in anticipation of what the fact-finding meetings could turn out like, Mr Thembo Kitsumbire, the Prime minister of the Rwenzururu kingdom had on Friday warned the committee against being “hoodwinked.”

“I want to warn that after we have talked to you, you will hear a lot of stories and lies, just be objective and pick out the truth,” Mr Thembo, who is charged with holding together the Rwenzururu Kingdom as King Charles Wesley Mumbere, serves out his remand pending trial.

King Mumbere was charged with murder and remanded after being arrested when the army stormed his palace in Kasese Town on November 27.

An estimated 100 people are reported to have died in the clashes, most of them the king’s royal guards.

The police say 137 royal guards were arrested during the military assault on the palace and are being detained at the high-security police detention centre at Nalufenya in Jinja District.

They have not been charged in court as required by law after more than two weeks since arrest. One of the “royal guards” who had been detained at Nalufenya, Bosco Bosco Mbusa Bwambale, 36, died at Bombo military hospital and the body was last week handed over to his family for burial.

Mr Mumbere’s arrest, detention and charging in court, after the violence and several deaths and heavy military deployment, have cast a shadow of fear over Kasese, which was visible as the MPs conducted their fact-finding mission.

NRM ruling party supporters accused opposition leaders and supporters of orchestrating the clashes, while opposition supporters threw the blame back to the government.

An observer in Kasese, who asked not to be named for fear of his security, said the meetings convened by the MPs were mainly attended by ruling NRM party supporters as most of the opposition supporters “remained in hiding”.

Our reporter, who on Sunday attended one of the meetings at Bwesumbu Sub-county, Busongora County North, Kasese District, said some known opposition supporters who tried to speak out during the meeting were shouted down by ruling NRM party supporters.

Ms Nabakooba, the chairperson of the Defence Committee, who chaired the meetings, later told journalists: “During our interactions with different people, they said that too much politics in the area is derailing peace efforts.”

But the opposition shadow minister for defence, who was part of the visiting team, said they had gathered “some concrete facts,” which he said they will use to write a report and “make concrete recommendations to government and to the people of Rwenzori and their leaders.”

Fresh ethnic clashes erupt in Kasese

President Museveni meets representatives of the different tribes in Kasese District at State House, Entebbe on Thursday. PHOTO BY PPU 

Two people have been shot dead and four soldiers critically injured in an attack in Hima town council in fresh ethnic violence in Kasese district

(http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Fresh-ethnic-clashes-erupt-Kasese/688334-3113330-format-xhtml-f6lx37z/index.html)

SATURDAY MARCH 12 2016

In Summary

Crisis. Police say attackers were holding deadly weapons.

By Enid Ninsiima, Moris Mumbere & Felix Basiime

KASESE. Two people have been shot dead and four soldiers critically injured in an attack in Hima town council in fresh ethnic violence in Kasese district.
The attacks are believed to have been triggered by ethnic conflicts stemming from the sub-county elections in the district this week in which the opposition again swept most of the seats. It is alleged that a group of more than 60 people armed with guns, spears and machetes on Thursday at around 10pm, attacked and speared three UPDF soldiers who were on night foot patrol at Kikonzo village, Kendahi Ward in Hima town council before the soldiers killed two in alleged self-defence.

The Regional Police Commander for Rwenzori East, Mr Bob Kagarura, confirmed the attack on Thursday night.
“We have been attacked by people from the mountains. As I speak, two people have already died and three of our soldiers are critically injured,” said Kagarura.

He said the attackers were holding deadly weapons such as guns, spears and pangas (machetes). Among the dead were commanders of the group that attacked the soldiers.
“As soldiers were on night patrol, a group of over 60 people singing Mai Mai and dressed in navy blue trousers and black new boots attacked them, started stabbing them on arms, backs and foreheads before soldiers defended themselves by killing two on the spot” said Mr Kagarura.

He identified the injured as Cpl Moses Ssentongo, Cpl Rwot Owengyo, Cpl James Otodde and Lance Cpl Matiya Senyonga all attached to Hima-Kaveera army barracks in Kasese. They were admitted to Kilembe Hospital. He said those who had guns among the attackers quickly disappeared while the rest vainly tried to grab guns from the soldiers.
The bodies of the attackers who are yet to be identified, were taken to Kilembe hospital. Other attackers reportedly vanished into the bushes.

“We have arrested four people in a cordon-and-search operation at night while others had been arrested earlier during the post-election demonstration that happened during the day,” Kagarura said.
He said earlier, security had sensed danger when many people started descending down to attack police posts, including Kithoma in Buhuhira sub-county.
Earlier on Thursday, police fired tear gas in Hima town as they tried to disperse crowds that had started burning houses in protests.

How it started 
The attacks came in a day after an independent candidate, Mr Tom Wabukombi, lost to the incumbent Mr Musana Katura (NRM) by 200 votes in the Hima Local Council chairperson elections.
Prior to the attack, a house of one of the supporters of Wabukombi was set ablaze after he was suspected to have caused the defeat of their candidate by allegedly having undercover dealings with their opponent.

The 305 Brigade army spokesperson, Lt Amos Nsamba, said security agencies had combed the whole village in a hunt for the attackers. He said there is need to encourage leaders to avoid misleading their followers in a manner that will not develop Uganda.
The attack in Kasese comes on the day after Presidenti Museveni had just warned against tribal chauvinism in Kasese district. In a March 10 press statement, the president said: “There can never be a Yiira Republic.”

President Museveni was meeting a delegation of the minority tribes in Kasese who were complaining about marginalisation in Kasese district. Some of the minority tribes were also talking of a scheme to create a Yiira Republic involving the Bakonjo of Congo and the Bakonjo of Uganda.
The minority groups represented were the Basongora, the Banyabindi, the Bagabo and the Bakyingwe [Banyabutumbi] as well as some other immigrant tribes [Bafurukyi].
The President assured the delegation that if a Yiira Republic was ever to be created, it would never ever involve a single inch of Ugandan territory.

Previously
Similar incidents happened in the neighbouring Bundibugyo district last month after the incumbent district chairman, Mr Jolly Tibemanya (Independent) lost to Mr Ronald Mutegeki (NRM) in a hotly contested race. The attacks left over 10 people dead in Kirumya Bughendera County.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com