Bees for Business in Kabwohe, Uganda: End of Project Report

This project, launched in February 2024, supported 210 coffee farmers (46% women) in western Uganda to diversify into beekeeping, providing them with a second source of income alongside coffee farming. To deliver this project we worked in partnership with Ugandan coffee co-operative, Banyankole Coffee Services (BCS).

Activity 1: Constructing and distributing 1,050 beehives and live stands

Throughout March and April 2024, 1,050 Kenya Top Bar beehives (KTB hives) were constructed locally and distributed to the 210 farmers, each farmer receiving five hives. To support the hives, the farmers also received ‘live stands’. These are live trees, specially cut to hold the hives at an optimal height above the ground, and planted strategically among their coffee trees. The farmers chose these stands over metal or wooden frames due to their longevity and durability. As the trees grow, they will provide protective shade for their coffee trees.

Activity 2: Training in beekeeping skills

In March 2024, all 210 farmers received training in beekeeping skills. The training consisted of both theoretical and practical components, with hands-on demonstrations led by an experienced local beekeeper. The session was led by a district entomologist, the agronomist at BCS, and a local trainer and seasoned beekeeper.

The training introduced farmers to the key concepts of beekeeping, including hive placement, how to establish a bee friendly environment, the different types of bees, the importance of bees on coffee farms and the economic benefits of beekeeping.

Activity 3: Training in honey harvesting skills

Throughout July and August 2024, the farmers received practical and theoretical training in honey harvesting skills. Topics covered included understanding the harvest seasons, how to use the tools and equipment correctly to ensure the honey collected is of high quality and how to remove the honeycomb from the wooden slats.

Activity 4: Distributing beekeeping tools and equipment

Following the training in honey harvesting skills, the farmers were provided with the necessary tools and equipment. Each farmer received boots, a knife for removing honeycomb, an airtight bucket, a jug and straining cloths. In groups of three, they also received bee suits, smokers and safety gloves. 

Two refractometers were also purchased to determine the percentage of moisture in the honey to support with quality assessment. During the training, the farmers were taught how to maintain and clean the tools to increase their longevity.

Activity 5: Providing agroforestry trees and agroforestry training

In late August 2024, the farmers received training in agroforestry skills, including the environmental importance of trees, such as reducing soil erosion and retaining moisture in the soil, and the positive impact that shade trees have on coffee tree growth. They also discussed the benefits of tree planting in attracting bees to their honey hives and the impact of bee pollination on coffee flower production.

In November 2024, 7,200 Calliandra seedlings were distributed to the farmers who received support with the planting and spacing of the trees among their coffee trees (when fully grown, each tree will provide shade for up to 40 coffee trees). The original plan was to distribute trees to the farmers in September, immediately after the training; however, the heavy rain season started later than usual, which meant the trees could not be distributed until November.

Additional activities financed through project savings and unspent contingency include:

Activity 6: Establishing a honey processing shop, purchasing processing machines, packaging and marketing activities

In January, BCS began searching for suitable premises to process, store, and sell their honey. Initially, they secured a space beneath their office, but it later became unavailable. In February, BCS secured an alternative location, which required some improvements to meet honey processing standards. BCS contributed £695 towards tiling, painting, installing shelving, and fitting a new door. As a result, the purchase of processing equipment was delayed until the shop was secure.

In March 2025, honey processing machines were purchased from Malaika Honey, an Australian Ugandan social enterprise specialising in African Beekeeping development and based in Kampala.

Airtight containers were purchased to hygienically store the honey and leaflets were produced to start promoting the honey to local and regional buyers. 

Activity 7: Providing training in honey processing techniques

In May 2025, training in honey processing methods was delivered to BCS by an expert from WAC-Western Apiary Cooperation in western Uganda. In total, 17 people attended the training, including four technical staff, three board members and 10 farmers representing the beekeepers. The training was both practical and theoretical and focussed on increasing awareness of processing and quality control protocols and how to operate and maintain the machines.

BCS intend to sell some of the honey locally to support local consumption whilst continuing to explore national buyers. Malaika Honey, the supplier of the processing equipment, has also committed to purchasing some honey produced.