JUNE 15, 2010
Uganda Fund Announces New Grantee

MAY 21, 2010
Uganda Fund Convenes Collaborative Grantee Meeting

FEBRUARY 22, 2010
Uganda Fund Welcomes New Board Member

NOVEMBER 09, 2009
Pauline, a student at Pader Girls Academy

FEBRUARY 23, 2009
A workshop on transitional justice: where to begin in northern Uganda?
Jessica Huber

JANUARY 31, 2009
Running with Bees
Jessica Huber

NOVEMBER 15, 2008
Have Oxen Plough, Will Travel
Jessica Huber

Running with Bees

One of the exciting things about working at the Uganda Fund is that through our partners we are exposed to fascinating recovery and development work. Our partner, Gulu NGO Forum’s Youth Leadership Program (YLP), has done a great job of identifying, vetting and supporting youth-led projects that have potential over the long term. YLP has excelled at helping these projects navigate pitfalls that are common in this stage of recovery from conflict. For example, it is often difficult to transfer new skills in a timely manner or identify an activity that has solid market access or find groups who understand and prioritize accountability in business practice.

During the recent visit from Amb. Allan Rock, Chair of the Uganda Fund Board, we met Walter, a bee keeper with Laminonge Progressive Bee Keeping Organization. Laminonge received a small start-up grant from YLP last year. Walter is extremely enthusiastic about bees. Only moments after meeting us, he scrambled into his pristine albeit cumbersome beekeeper suit, while excitedly speaking about the thriving hives. Suit still slightly askew, Walter gestured enthusiastically for Allan and me to put one on too. I admit there was a certain allure to the bright white space suit – as is often the case with this job, I find my New York City street smarts well out of range in Gulu…I’d never seen a beekeeping suit in real life before! Alas, and with thanks to Allan’s deftness, we were able to politely decline the wardrobe and hive excursion. A slightly deflated Walter seemed to bounce back when I handed him my camera and asked him to take close up shots of the bustling hives. Upon his return, Walter brought his friends, the bees. Pleasantries were abandoned as we dashed for the vehicle to escape the bees’ clear affinity for Walter and growing curiosity for us.

Walter suggested we could view some of the group’s processing equipment down the road. Still slightly winded, we arrived at the honey processing center, which is really a tiny village that is home to most of the group. On display was an impressive operation. With the YLP grant, Laminonge purchased 60 bee hives, 1 settling tank, 15 air tight buckets and 5 protective suits. The group, which began just last year, has already managed to harvest 1,282 kilos of honey, which brought them a profit of nearly $3,000!

And now for remembering my favorite part of the visit: the taste test. YUM! Truly, the honey was the nectar of the gods. There is something so spectacular about munching on a honey comb as the honey oozes through it. No wonder their sales are so good – the honey was fantastic! Walter looked quite proud as we exclaimed praise and delight, and deservedly so. Behind this delectable delight was an innovative and well run business operated by youth, which was gearing up to turn a good profit for the foreseeable future. I only had one regret as we left: next visit I’m going to try on the suit!