A beekeeper in Mpigi District has hailed the government's Parish Development Model (PDM), saying the Shs1 million he received under the programme has grown into a thriving enterprise that now earns him approximately Shs8.4 million annually.
Alpha Kibuuka, a resident of Kituntu Sub-county in Mpigi District, said he received the PDM funds at the beginning of last year and invested them in expanding his beekeeping business.
Kibuuka explained that beekeeping had long been his passion, having started with a single traditional beehive years before benefiting from the government programme.
"I have loved beekeeping since childhood. Even before PDM, I had one beehive at home mainly for producing honey for family consumption," he said.
When the Parish Development Model was rolled out, Kibuuka registered as a beneficiary and chose beekeeping as his income-generating project because he already had basic knowledge and experience in the enterprise.
He said the programme also provided him with practical training in modern beekeeping, hive management and the role of bees in crop pollination.
Using the Shs1 million, Kibuuka purchased 10 modern beehives, increasing his stock to 11 hives.
After six months, he harvested honey from the hives, with each producing an average of five kilogrammes. He sold the honey at Shs10,000 per kilogramme and reinvested the proceeds to purchase another 10 beehives.
Today, Kibuuka owns 56 beehives, each producing an average of five kilogrammes of honey per harvest.
He harvests honey every three months, earning approximately Shs2.8 million per harvest, translating into an annual income of about Shs8.4 million.
"Today, I harvest honey worth about Shs2.8 million every three months. That means I earn around Shs8.4 million a year from the Shs1 million I received under PDM," he said.
Beyond honey production, Kibuuka said the bees have significantly increased yields from his coffee plantation through pollination.
"My coffee harvest has improved tremendously since I started keeping bees because the flowers are effectively pollinated. Even neighbouring gardens benefit from the bees' pollination," he said.
He also dismissed fears that bees are dangerous, saying they are generally harmless when not disturbed.
"There is no insect friendlier to human beings than bees. If you don't provoke them, they won't attack you. Mine even recognise me as I move around the apiary," he said.
Kibuuka said the business has transformed his family's welfare by enabling him to pay school fees for his children while also providing enough honey for home consumption.
He credited the government for introducing the Parish Development Model, saying it transformed what was once a small hobby into a profitable business.
"Without PDM, I would probably still have one hive producing honey only for home use. Today, I have become financially stable through beekeeping. I encourage Ugandans to embrace government programmes to fight poverty," he said.
The Parish Development Model is one of the government's flagship poverty alleviation initiatives aimed at improving household incomes across Uganda.
Under the programme, beneficiaries receive Shs1 million to invest in income-generating activities of their choice.
Since its rollout, many beneficiaries have reported improved incomes and better living standards, attributing their economic progress to the programme.