Beekeeping in the city: Tips at Harvest Money Expo

Inside a fenced compound in Kyebando, off the Northern Bypass in Kampala, lies a thriving beekeeping operation.

Over 10 colonised bee hives sit in one corner, remarkably without any incident of people being attacked, despite the presence of three homes within the fence.

“I wanted to prove that beekeeping is possible in urban areas,” says Moses Kuteesa, owner of Bee Farmers Crib.

On a Thursday morning, Kuteesa inspected the hives, finding the bees calm and docile.

The four hives, plus several catcher boxes are positioned on a metallic stand.

Kuteesa will lead a beekeeping training session at the 2025 Harvest Money Expo, alongside Steven Kunihira (Mr Bees).

He will specifically discuss urban beekeeping.

The expo, sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands, Engineering Solutions (ENGSOL), Tunga Nutrition, and Bella Wines, will take place from February 14-16.

As honey gains popularity as a natural sweetener, Kuteesa highlights a challenge: “Much of the honey on the market is adulterated with other sugars, including molasses. However, with just four hives, an urban resident can produce enough honey for their family.”

He emphasizes that bees are manageable once understood.

“It is about handling them gently. Bees defend themselves when attacked, but they won’t harm you if you open the hives calmly,” Kuteesa said.

He uses a smoker to subdue the bees, cautioning against using materials with strong scents, such as lemon grass, which can irritate them, causing them to attack whoever is nearby.

It is a business

Beekeeping can be a lucrative venture, with honey generating significant income.

Kuteesa and Kunihira demonstrate that beekeeping can thrive in any space.

To start, one can begin with 10 hives. Depending on the type of hives and where you get them, this can cost sh1m-sh2m, if they are fully colonised. If one is constrained by space, one can opt for stands, with each taking three to four hives.

He has a combination of Langstroth, KTB and local hives. Kuteesa says for 10 hives, one needs only three stands. Setting up a stand costs at least sh100,000.

The other requirements include a beekeeper's suit, which costs sh100,000. This is worn by the beekeeper during harvesting.

Overall, with sh2.5 million, one can establish a modern urban apiary with 10 hives.

According to Moses Kuteesa, 10 beehives can produce approximately 340kg of pure honey annually, translating to sh5.1 million at a farm gate price of sh15,000 per kilogramme.

Labour input is minimal and bees have few predators and diseases, eliminating the need for medicines.

A bee hive remains colonised for as long as its structure is right. Bees multiply and create new ones often.

Selection of apiar site

Kunihira emphasises the importance of careful apiary site selection.

Key considerations include:

Water Availability: Bees require water to produce honey. Ensure a water source is within 500 metres. Although bees can travel up to 5km looking for water, etc, the nearer the better.

The beehives are positioned on a metallic stand at one end of the compound.

“If there is no water source available, create one near the apiary using small sauce pans or pails,” Kunihira says.

Good flowering plant: Bees collect nectar from flowers to produce honey. Plant flowers, such as coffee, mangoes, maize, bananas, calliandra, Eucalyptus and simsim near the apiary.

For urban bees, Kuteesa uses sugar water, maize bran and cassava flour, from which bees collect nectar through converting carbohydrates into sugar.

Shade: Bees dislike direct sunshine. Choose a site with trees to provide shade, or cover the hives with an iron sheet to reduce sun and rain impact.

“I cover the hives with an iron sheet to reduce the impact of the elements,” he says.

Distance and animals: Keep the apiary away from animals and shelters to prevent irritation and attacks. Animals may also meander into the apiary site, hence causing attacks.

Hives under fruit trees?

It is not recommended to place beehives directly under fruit trees, such as mango trees. When the fruit ripens and falls, it attracts insects that can harm the bees.

Choosing the right

There are several hive options available. Kenya Top Bar Hive goes for between sh100,000 and sh120,000, the Modern Hive or Langstroth hive costs sh150,000 to sh200,000 (uncolonised) or over sh250,000 (colonised).

There are also larger modern hives that are more expensive. However, you can make your own hive using materials that are readily available on your farm.

These may include old tree trunks. You can also use banana fibres or papyrus to create basket hives. In apiary, a hive made using tree logs is called a log hive.

All you need to do is cut the log to a length of, say, four feet and scoop out the inside to create a hollow. Both sides of the log should be sealed, leaving small openings through which the bees can access them.

During harvest time, the log is simply split open and the honeycombs removed. If you want to use the same logs again, you can combine two hollow logs, which you can separate during harvest time to remove the honeycombs and then stitch them together again in preparation for the next harvest.

There are also modernised local hives, where a queen extruder is included. These cost sh70,000, including the stand. You can also use banana fibres to make cheap hives.

This is when flexible sticks are woven together in a conical shape. The outside is smeared with wet soil, mixed with animal dung.

Both ends of the cone are then sealed with lids made out of banana fibre and grass. Other bee hives that can be made using readily available materials include, the grass hive and the gourd hive.

While improvised hives may not produce as much honey as top-bar hives, they can still meet your family’s needs and provide some for sale.

Attracting bees to my hives

Bees can naturally colonize a hive, but you can also attract them using beeswax and lemon grass smeared inside the hive after setup.

When to harvest

Honey is typically ready for harvest eight months after setting up the hives and colonisation.

However, it is recommended to wait at least 12 months before the first harvest, to allow the honey to mature.

After the initial harvest, follow the flowering periods of local crops and trees, as bees produce excess honey during this time.

Equipment and Safety

• For proper harvesting, you need a bee-keepers suit, which prevents bees from stinging you. This includes a suit and gloves. A set costs sh100,000-sh150,000.
• You need a smoker to calm the bees, allowing for safe harvesting, as well as a bee hive knife, to help pull out the combs.
• It is advisable to harvest in the evening, because bees are less aggressive at that time. Smoke the hives’ entrance and sides before opening and harvest only sealed /capped combs.
• Avoid removing combs with young bees (broods) or pollen, as this can harm the colony, since you are killing them. Besides, the honey is not good.
• Extract honey using a honey press (available at agri-input shops, starting from sh1m) or manual pressing with clean cloth.
• For the purest honey, let it drip slowly from the combs into a bucket over several days.

How to maintain apiary site, hives

• Trim shade trees regularly, to reduce pest incidents
• Prevent grass from overgrowing the hives, as this attracts pests
• Conduct monthly checks on the hives for insect infiltration
• If a hive is infected by other elements, for example bee beetles or termites, decolonise and clean it
• If there is not enough water or flowering plants, establish water mixed with sugar in small containers not far from the apiary unit.

Managing bee pests

Various pests, including insects, reptiles and mammals, can attack bees and reduce honey production.

Some of these are insects, such as termites, hive beetles, weaver ants, bee hornets and wasps. Others are reptiles or even mammals, such as the mongoose. Below are tips on controlling pests:

• Destroy bee hornet nests manually
• Smear burnt engine oil on hive stands to prevent termite infestations
• Secure hive top covers to prevent rats from accessing it.
• Use improvised bottle traps with vinegar and water to control wax moths. Plastic mineral water bottles can do. The moth will be attracted into the bottle and it will not come out