Butanga Karweru Beekeepers Group in Maziba Sub-county, Kabale District, has received modern beekeeping equipment worth Shs26.8 million under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP), a government initiative aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing climate resilience and improving household incomes.
The equipment was handed over by the Kabale District Local Government Production Department to strengthen honey production and improve the group’s capacity to engage in commercial beekeeping.
The consignment includes 150 modern beehives, 15 honey buckets, 15 pairs of gumboots, 15 bee brushes, 15 hive tools, 15 smokers, 15 protective bee suits and 15 harvesting knives.
Under the arrangement, each of the 15 group members will receive 10 beehives and one set of accompanying beekeeping equipment to facilitate efficient honey production and harvesting.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Butanga Karweru Beekeepers Group Chairperson Stanislaus Habutunga thanked Kabale District Local Government and the Production Department for supporting the group.
He said the group had been constrained by inadequate beekeeping equipment, which affected honey production and made harvesting difficult.
“The new equipment will improve both the quality and quantity of honey produced. Members should use it responsibly to increase production and household incomes,” Habutunga said.
Kabale District Senior Entomologist Honest Tumuhirwe commended the district leadership and UCSATP for supporting farmers with interventions aimed at enhancing agricultural production and improving incomes.
She explained that the project operates under a co-funding arrangement where beneficiary groups contribute 20 percent of the project cost, while government provides the remaining 80 percent.
“The group contributed Shs5,375,800 while government provided Shs21,503,200, bringing the total project value to approximately Shs26,879,000,” Tumuhirwe said.
Tumuhirwe encouraged the group members to work together to maximise honey production and expand their membership to increase their chances of benefiting from future government programmes.
“Work together to maximise honey production and expand the group’s membership to at least 20. Larger groups stand a better chance of benefiting from future government programmes,” she added.
Kabale District Senior Fisheries Officer Jennifer Tumwebaze commended the group for embracing government programmes and urged members to maintain proper production and financial records to monitor progress and support future planning.
Kabale District Production Officer Bedda Mwebesa reminded the beneficiaries to properly maintain the equipment and keep accurate records of their activities.
He said proper management of the investment would enable the district to monitor the group’s performance and improve its chances of accessing additional government support.
Mwebesa later officially handed over the equipment to the beneficiaries, urging them to utilise the investment effectively by increasing honey production and improving their livelihoods.
