Uganda
In Uganda we partner with The Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation (TUNADO) to deliver beekeeping training and resources across Uganda. We have a long history with TUNADO, supporting their establishment as a national beekeeping body in 2004. They now have over 400 members, representing thousands of beekeepers across the country.
Together, we piloted supporting people with disabilities in beekeeping which we are now incorporating into all our programmes. We work together to train beekeepers, develop resources, support honey and beeswax market development, and build education programmes for the next generation of beekeepers.
Our programmes have three core areas in Uganda: empowering indigenous people, making beekeeping inclusive, and training the next generation of beekeeping leaders.
Our team in Uganda
Dickson Biryomumaisho
Director
Phionah Birungi
Programme Manager
Hope Agwang
Inclusion Officer
Sauda Babirye
Finance Manager
Arinanye Viira
Apiary Master
Daniel Odongo
Apiary Master
Empowering indigenous people
The Batwa people, marginalised and exploited, have few livelihood opportunities. Over the last five years we have trained the Batwa people in beekeeping and expanded access to markets. Stingless bees also live in this region of Uganda, and we are piloting work with stingless beekeeping. The Batwa people have a strong cultural connection to stingless bees and stingless bee honey. We have identified the key stingless bee species, stingless beekeeping methods, and established training Meliponary.
Making beekeeping inclusive – women’s empowerment and disability inclusion through beekeeping
We provide inclusive beekeeping training ensuring women participate in beekeeping and adapting training to include people with disabilities. Part of this work supports youth with disabilities at vocational schools. They learn beekeeping, how to make bee hives, beesuits, or value added products.
Training the next generation of beekeeping leaders
We support beekeeping education and training through training programmes, supporting university and college curriculum development, and providing resources for practical training.
Case Study
Rose, a beekeeper in Pakele sub county in Adjumani district, Uganda, became a Bee Champion (beekeeping mentor) with support from BfD and TUNADO:
“I have learnt a lot in beekeeping and my project is doing well. The bees have colonized very well. I was able to harvest one 20-litre jerrycan and a quarter. At first, we didn’t know there was good market for honey, so we were selling by the roadside to passersby. The Apiary Master (Extension Officer) told us the price and trained us how to harvest and process clean honey that fetches a good price. He even helped me transport my honey to Jephina’s Honey (a honey buyer). I sold one 20-litre jerrycan at UGX300,000 (£62)
That money helped me a lot, I paid my children’s fees balances at school, I know the four remaining colonies will fetch me some money when I harvest them later this year.”
Rose (right) selling her honey to Jephina, from Jephina’s Honey – a local honey buying business.
Latest news from Uganda
Read some articles from our blog with all the latest news from Uganda.
