Agric ministry wants NFA to stop fires to protect bee homes

The agriculture ministry has appealed to the National Forest Authority (NFA) to stop forest fires that it says are fast wiping away homes of bees and other insect pollinators.

Animal husbandry state minister Bright Rwamirama made the call during World Bee Day celebrations at the National Agriculture Research Laboratories in Kawanda, Wakiso district on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

According to Rwamirama, insect pollinators such as bees are being threatened by wildfires, increased use of pesticides and diseases, in addition to bad farming practices like burning forests to generate smoke before harvesting honey and other bee products.

And yet bees contribute to improved yields, which create incomes for farmers.

 “This critical resource is under siege from habitat loss, unsustainable farming practices, indiscriminate pesticide use, and urbanisation, which are forcing bees to disappear. These threats are not abstract; they jeopardise agricultural yields, biodiversity, and our national food security,” Rwamirama said.

He added that although Uganda has not publicly celebrated this day in the past, starting this year, the day will be a priority so as to recognise the value of bees in driving agricultural productivity, environmental conservation, and economic livelihoods.

Save the bees campaign

At the same event, Rwamirama launched the Save the Bees campaign. The ministry will promote the campaign in partnership with the private sector through Green Cane Innovations.

Under this campaign, doctors of bees will be stationed in communities that keep bees as their main source of income to help farmers manage bee diseases, but also teach farmers how to identify sick bees and how to treat them.

For those interested in keeping bees, Adam Chandia from Butuntumula in Luwero district showcased the different tree and plant species that should be planted to enhance the quality of honey. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)

The aim, according to Green Cane Innovations executive director Haba Mugisha, is to increase the bee population that is first being reduced from the atmosphere.

Although bees are known for their high-value products such as honey, propolis and venom used in the treatment of many health conditions, in addition to high incomes earned from bee products, the public is still not friendly to bees.

That is why bee swarms are usually targeted by the public and destroyed, added Rwamirama.

To encourage the coexistence between humans and bees, innovators such as Angela Namukaya are encouraging beekeeping through different products from crochets, including key holders, scarves, earrings, among others.

For those interested in keeping bees, Adam Chandia from Butuntumula in Luwero district showcased the different tree and plant species that should be planted to enhance the quality of honey.

These include mangoes, Mangosteen, Mujaja, bottlebrush trees and wax apple.

This year's celebrations are running under the theme: Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish Us All. World Bee Day was established by the United Nations in 2017, following a proposal by the Republic of Slovenia, a country with a rich beekeeping tradition.

 The date, May 20, was chosen in honour of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern beekeeping, born on this day in 1734. The day serves to recognise the vital role bees and other pollinators play in maintaining ecosystems, supporting agriculture, and ensuring food security.