Building Capacity for Nature-based Beekeeping: A Conversation with Steven, TUNADO Uganda

Meet Steven

Q. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role at TUNADO?

A. My name is Steven Andrew Muwanguzi, and I am a Ugandan journalist by training. I currently work as the Communications and Knowledge Management Officer at The Uganda National Apiculture Organisation – TUNADO. My role involves leading the organization’s communication and visibility efforts by documenting the impact of beekeeping initiatives, producing stories and multimedia content, managing our digital platforms, and supporting knowledge sharing among members and partners.

Image above: Steven, Communications and Knowledge Management Officer at TUNADO

Q. What does Nature-based Beekeeping mean to you?

A. According to me, Nature-Based Beekeeping means using affordable, locally available natural materials to keep bees while promoting biodiversity and conserving forests.

Q. Why is Nature-based Beekeeping relevant in Uganda today?

A. Nature-based beekeeping is highly relevant in Uganda because it provides a low-cost, sustainable livelihood for the rural and most vulnerable communities. People can make hives freely from locally available materials like reeds, bamboo etc, making it accessible even to those with little or no capital, including youth, women, PwDs and indigenous communities such as the Batwa and the Ik in Karamoja. Beyond generating income from honey, it encourages communities to conserve forests and biodiversity. It is therefore a practical solution that supports both livelihoods and environmental conservation.

Images: Hive weaving exercise using papyrus by the Batwa community in Nyagakenke subcounty – Kisoro district.

Q. What lessons has TUNADO learned from supporting beekeepers across Uganda?

A. One our biggest lessons is that people—especially those in the poorest communities do not simply need handouts that most development partners give to them; they need practical skills and opportunities. By doing our core role of equipping beekeepers with knowledge, training, and market linkages, we have seen communities build sustainable livelihoods and become more self-reliant. This approach is working because with skills, we are guaranteed that our work is creating lasting impact for the communities we work in.

Q. Why are training videos such an important part of this project?

A. Drawing on my background in journalism, I introduced YouTube training videos in different local languages so that more TUNADO members especially those that have embraced Nature Based Beekeeping could benefit from my knowledge and experience.
Today, our YouTube channel hosts over 15 “How To” training videos that are widely used and appreciated by beekeepers across the country and these were documented with support from Bees for Development. I have produced numerous videos on nature-based beekeeping, covering topics such as making local hives, hive siting, honey harvesting, and processing. These videos have helped communities understand that nature-based beekeeping is a low-cost activity that can produce abundant honey while improving household livelihoods.

Q. What topics are you planning to cover in your videos?

A. Right now, I am planning to produce training videos on pest management, as this is one of the biggest challenges facing beekeepers, especially those practicing nature-based beekeeping. I also intend to develop a training video on honey quality, focusing on how Nature Based Beekeepers can identify and separate different grades of honey during harvesting to improve quality and earn better prices in the market.

Q. How could these resources help conservation and development organisations?

A. The gospel is moving very fast I can say, by promoting skills rather than handouts, the videos help communities adopt sustainable, nature-based beekeeping practices that improve livelihoods while protecting forests and biodiversity. As a result, many local and international organisations supporting beekeeping in Uganda are now partnering with TUNADO to support affordable and impactful beekeeping initiatives across Uganda. Our growing collaboration with the National Forestry Authority and the launch of Uganda’s National Agroforestry Strategy by the Ministry of Water and Environment further demonstrate the recognition of nature-based beekeeping by the government of Uganda as an effective approach to both conservation and sustainable development.

Q. What would success look like five years from now?

A. Five years from now, success would mean seeing nature-based beekeeping become a proven pathway to improved livelihoods for the poorest communities we work with. It would mean that families are able to meet their basic needs through income earned from beekeeping, not because of financial handouts, but because they have gained the skills to build sustainable livelihoods. That, to me, would be the true measure of success.

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Images above: Filming training videos