Skip to content 
“I started bee keeping way back using the local hives, before we upgraded to this one later. Initially, we were introduced to bee keeping as a project by an organization called SCORE. They gave us some hives and then of course these ones that we got from you….”.
The Life as Beekeeper
Who belongs to your family / who is living with you?
My name is Mr. Godi Nicholas, in Kuni Cell- Oluko in Ayivu East. This one here is my brother. I am married with children, and in the whole homestead, we could be 20 or 30 members.
What motivated you to start bee keeping?
Honey is sweet. I like it so much. And I started bee keeping way back using the local hives, before we upgraded to this one later. Initially, we were introduced to bee keeping as a project by an organization called SCORE. They gave us some hives and then of course these ones that we got from you. So up to now, I am doing this as a project. Of course at one point I was a community procurement committee chairperson, so during that process, we got to learn more about the importance of such projects. That is how I got into bee keeping.
How has beekeeping changed your life?
This project has been helpful in a number of ways. Especially, if you have a number of them. That means you can raise money from different sources. As I said before, I was a community procurement chairman. So we got training about community projects and that is how I came to appreciate these projects. I now supplement this with garden work.
How do you provide a good environment for your bees?
If you can see here, as a family, we stand for conservation. We have a big piece of land and we ensure people don’t destroy the trees. Because when you cut a tree may be for charcoal, that is the end of it. But protecting trees benefits many more people through maintaining a good environment. This is also very good for the bees. That is why we cannot struggle to provide food or shade for the bees because these are now readily available. And there are points here where you can get water, and that also helps the bees.
What do trees mean to you and how can they be protected?
Trees mean a lot to us. And as I said before, as a family, we try to protect these trees in our land as much as possible. In our vicinity, you hardly find big trees – all have been cut down to burn charcoal. And that is a big problem because in future, all these indigenous tree species might disappear and our grandchildren will not know these trees. So, conservation is very important to us. And of course for my bee keeping project, it is very useful. We have settled in such a way that we have enclosed our land. That is how we protect the land and encroachers. So if somebody tries to come in to cut trees from one corner, there is some family member who is settled there and they will notice. So now, they find it difficult. That is why you see all these indigenous trees.
What is the most important thing in your life?
In my life, the most important thing is to have a listening ear and to give. To bring up children in a good manner so they appreciate community values. Even the way you live your personal life is very important, for example marrying many wives etc. Sometimes you have to bow down in life. Also, it is important to fear God.
What are your biggest challenges and how do you plan to overcome them?
There are always challenges in life. In the bee keeping project, what you need is skilling. That should be a life-long thing. You should accept to learn for the rest of your life because when you have knowledge, then you can find solution to some of these challenges. If you live a good life, associating with people etc, you will find solutions to problems easily. But also you cannot find solutions to challenges at once. You just have to keep working on them one at a time.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I am a cultural leader, so, most times, we are either solving cultural and community problems or your own problems. So sometimes we have little time for rest.
Which place would you like to see once?
If it is within Uganda, me I would be willing to go. And even outside Uganda, because after being born from your mother’s womb, you are now out, so you should be ready to travel anywhere. So, if there was
opportunity for me to travel, I would be willing to go anywhere, whether in Europe or anywhere in the other parts of the world, I would go. When you travel, you learn, so I will be happy to travel.
