Uganda

Beekeeping projects

We have supported three groups, Mon-Bunyu (Mon-bunyu in the local Acholi dialect means "women smiles") women empowerment group (2007), Oryang Ojuma Women project and Giligili Women beekeepers (in 2008). These groups with over 80 members have over 150 local and wooden beehives. They have been collaborating with different institutions and organisations, as a result they have demonstrated great success in terms of increased honey production, knowledge acquisition and overall poverty alleviation. Since inceptions, the 3 groups have earned over 3.5 million Ugandan Shillings (approximately £1,100) from the sale of honey and other bee products. As a result, poverty amongst rural beekeepers has reduced and their living conditions and livelihood status improved.

More importantly, members of these 3 project groups came together and founded the Acholi Beekeepers Cooperative Society. This will help them and other beekeepers work together, enhance their capacity, improve the marketing of honey and other bee products and assit in certifying their bee products with fair trade organisations. This Cooperative is registered and plans are underway to affiliate it to the national Beekeepers body. Beekeepers in other villages are also being mobilised to access membership.

During January 2010, these groups pulled their resources and with funding support from another donor conducted 3 days residential training for over 178 beekeepers from the whole Kitgum region. Among the topics conducted were; cost benefit analysis, book keeping, honey bees, the colony, bee behaviour, apiary management , hive colonization methods, the enemies of bees and pest management, how to construct protective equipment, using locally available materials, honey harvesting and hive inspection ,honey processing and marketing.

Community managed revolving fund/micro-credit schemes were established from honey sales and these are providing micro-credit loans to the farmers to expand on their entrepreneurial activities. This revolving fund will adopt effective micro-finance facilities for the beekeepers in 2010.