Kabale District Supports Beekeepers with Apiary Equipment Ahead of Harvest Season

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By Alex Byakatonda

Communications Officer-Kabale

Kabale District Local Government has today boosted local beekeepers by handing over modern apiary equipment to 20 selected farmer groups ahead of the upcoming honey harvesting season.

The handover ceremony, held at the District Headquarters, saw the distribution of 20 bee suits, 20 smokers, and 40 airtight honey storage buckets, all valued at UGX 6 million. The equipment was procured under the Agriculture Extension Grant Program, aimed at enhancing honey production and promoting best practices in apiary management.

Honest Tumuheirwe, the District Senior Entomologist, said the equipment is intended for demonstration purposes. “We want farmers to experience how modern equipment improves honey harvesting. If they find it effective, they’re encouraged to procure more on their own,” she explained.

Tumuheirwe further urged local beekeepers to organize into cooperative groups in order to benefit from larger projects such as the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project.

The Principal Assistant Secretary (PAS) of Kabale, while addressing the farmers, emphasized the need for maintaining high standards in honey production. “Quality determines the market. Poor handling will lock you out of both local and international opportunities. Work together and pursue good markets for your products,” he advised.

The Kabale District Vice Chairperson, Miria Akankwasa Tugume, encouraged beneficiaries to make proper use of the equipment, highlighting the need for accountability, value addition, and branding. “Let us not stop at production. Focus on how you package and market your honey. That’s where the profit lies,” she said. She also emphasized record-keeping as a critical component for monitoring progress and improving access to funding and markets.

Kabale District is home to an estimated 6,000 beekeepers, collectively producing around 2.5 million tons of honey annually. Apiary is increasingly being seen as a viable income-generating activity in the region, contributing to household incomes and food security.

The district’s latest initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen agricultural extension services and promote climate-resilient farming practices.

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