Uganda's flowering crops, forests and savannah make it a natural home for honey bees. Beekeeping needs little land, no feeding and little daily labour, which makes it a great side business for farmers and landowners.
Types of hives
- Kenya Top Bar (KTB) hive: affordable, easy to inspect, good for beginners.
- Langstroth hive: frames can be spun in a honey extractor and reused, giving higher yields.
- Traditional log hives: cheap but harder to manage and harvest cleanly.
Siting your apiary
- Near flowering plants and a water source
- At least 100 metres from homes, roads and livestock
- Shaded, protected from strong winds
- Hives raised on stands with grease to stop ants
Getting bees
Bait new hives with beeswax and lemongrass, then wait for a swarm to colonise. You can also buy colonised hives from established beekeepers.
Equipment
A bee suit, veil, gloves, gumboots, smoker, hive tool, buckets and a honey press or extractor.
Harvesting
Harvest when combs are capped, usually in the dry season after flowering. Harvest in the evening, use gentle smoke and leave some honey for the colony.
Processing and selling
Strain honey through clean cloth or mesh, store it in food grade containers and label it. UNBS certification opens doors to supermarkets. Sell beeswax to candle, cosmetic and polish makers. Propolis and pollen are extra income streams.
Frequently asked questions
How much honey does one hive produce?
A well managed Langstroth hive can give significantly more honey than a top bar or log hive, with two or more harvests a year in good areas.
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