Empowering Uganda’s Deaf Students

Blog by Agwang Florence Hope

Posted: 16 September 2025

The Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation (TUNADO) and Bees for Development are actively partnering with vocational schools for the Deaf in Uganda to deliver practical beekeeping trainings that create sustainable livelihoods for Deaf youth.

The approach combines mindset change to inspire the young people to seek opportunities in apiculture, technical skills training in local style and top bar hives making, apiary establishment, while employing inclusive education methods where trainings are conducted in Ugandan Sign Language.

Hope conducting training in Ugandan Sign Language

Key Activities with Schools for the Deaf

At Nancy Comprehensive School for the Deaf (Lira District), 71 students have been trained to sew high-demand bee suits, weave local style and make top-bar hives. A school training and demonstration apiary was established where staff & students are learning apiary management. With time, the students will also acquire skills in honey harvesting and processing, and product value-addition

In Mbale Secondary & Vocational School for the Deaf, 128 Deaf and hearing students established a functioning school demo apiary using the 20 top bar hives the carpentry pupils manufactured and low-cost hives from local material, while tailoring pupils were trained on making bee suits. The school secured a paid order for 20 hives and several have started home apiaries.

Wakiso vocational school for the Deaf is scheduled to join the same programme next year, following the Nancy and Mbale Schools model.

Bee suit making training at Mbale Vocational School for the Deaf

Hope supporting bee suit making training for tailoring students at Mbale Secondary & Vocational School for the Deaf

Top-bar hive making at Mbale Secondary & Vocational School for the Deaf

Top-bar hive making for carpentry students at Mbale Secondary & Vocational School for the Deaf

Success story

A notable success story involves 2 former students and a Deaf carpentry trainer who have teamed up and included beehives as one of the items they make in their workshop in Namirembe, in the outskirts of Kampala. Abigail had this to say;

“Hive making business is so good…sales of the hives have improved our lives within a short time; there is ready market for the hives we make. We want to work hard and buy some carpentry machines so that we are able to deliver the orders without delays. It is the only challenge limiting our business”

Inclusive Methods & Support

The dedicated Disability Inclusion Officer – Hope Agwang, a sign language interpreter, leads the sessions, supported by past Deaf graduates who return as peer trainers.

Visual posters, demonstrations and sign-language interpretation replace conventional speech-based sessions, accommodating low literacy levels and cultivating interest among the participants.

Teachers are also trained so the schools can continue the programme after TUNADO steps back; beekeeping has been included as one of the extra curricula activities offered and examined by Wakiso school.

Long-term Impact

The skills are providing Deaf youth who are often excluded from land ownership and formal employment, with low-cost, conservation-friendly enterprises.
Deaf-owned businesses and trainees have been linked to national markets for beekeeping equipment and honey, giving them visibility and a competitive niche.
Creates a pathway to further internships, jobs, or self-employment through TUNADO’s nationwide network.

In short, our work with schools for the Deaf embeds beekeeping as a practical, income-generating subject while simultaneously building the schools’ capacity to teach and sustain the programme independently.

How you can help

Please support our campaign to give young people in Uganda more than skills – to give them dignity, income, and independence. Help them build a future where they can thrive while caring for the environment.

Every £1 you give will be doubled to £2 instantly doubling your impact