In February, Partnership Manager, Mark Wilcox, travelled out with his wife, Susan, to Uganda, his first visit as a leader of Bees Abroad beekeeping projects. Over the ten days spent with our local partner, LIDEFO, they met with the communities, supported by Bees Abroad. The team soon had a routine: "We would meet under a tree with a formal agenda, and often a printed report given by their leader, sometimes with a welcome song and dance," Mark recalls. He would talk about the work of Bees Abroad; the group would put their questions; and then everyone would walk out to the apiary before a lunch of freshly picked fruit.

When Mark met the group, he found a group well on its way. The association runs two apiaries at Kyalanga and Muhyokya, holding 38 hives in total, with more colonies moving in. Four members have earned beekeeping certificates and now train the others, so the skills stay in the community and keep spreading. Alongside the bees, members run a weekly savings and credit scheme, pooling their own money and lending to one another at low interest. Honey income and savings work together to steady a household through the year.

Here are Mark’s own words about their visit to Uganda

I only joined Bees Abroad in 2025, following Bolu’s lecture at the Wax Chandlers Hall, where he described the difference beekeeping can make in Africa. Richard has kindly introduced me to the projects in South West Uganda, where I am now a Partnership Manager.

The local provider is LIDEFO, led by Daniel Ngangasi, and although we were conversing via email and WhatsApp, there is no substitute for meeting in person. So in February, my wife and I found ourselves on a plane to Uganda, followed by a 7-hour bumpy car journey to Kasese. Over the next 10 days, Daniel introduced us to Ugandan culture and, more importantly, to the five incubator projects I am working on.

Despite all I had been told, I was surprised by the hospitality of the groups and their genuine gratitude to Bees Abroad, through LIDEFO, for the difference that beekeeping would make to their lives. A typical visit would be in a remote mountainous location, with no running water or electricity. We would meet under a tree with a formal agenda, often with a printed report from their leader, sometimes followed by a welcome song and dance. I would then describe the work of Bees Abroad, and we would have a general Q&A. A visit to their apiary would be followed by a freshly picked fruit lunch.

There was universal enthusiasm and excitement to learn and get started following their training, and a huge pride in their newly created apiaries. They look forward to generating income for medicines, schooling and local credit schemes.

Culturally, the Ugandan people value friendship and contacts very highly so I have no doubt that visiting and meeting the LIDEFO team and most of the group members has been very beneficial to Bees Abroad’s profile and our relationship.

Lastly, the Kasese region is at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains and the lower end of the Rift Valley. It is an exceptionally beautiful and fertile region, ideally suited to beekeeping.

You can help more groups like this one get started. Every new hive is a step towards income, independence, and a future these communities are building for themselves.

Keep up with everything Bees Abroad on social media. Instagram · Facebook · LinkedIn. And if you would like to help more groups like Rwenzori Tuyihimbe Agro and Eco-Tourism Association get started, you can support our work. Click the button below to know more.