Kotido District, Uganda — 4 June 2025
The Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Society Organisations (COPACSO), in partnership with the Jie Community Animal Health Workers Association (JICAHWA), delivered a one-day basic beekeeping training for 34 members of a Communal Land Association (CLA) in North Division, Kotido District. The training forms part of ongoing efforts to promote sustainable natural resource management and strengthen climate-resilient livelihoods in Uganda’s pastoral regions.
In Karamoja, pastoralist communities rely heavily on communal grazing lands for their livelihoods and cultural identity. However, increasing land pressure, overgrazing, climate variability, and limited livelihood diversification continue to undermine household resilience. While Communal Land Associations have played a critical role in securing customary land rights, many face challenges in resource management and economic sustainability.
Beekeeping offers a land-compatible livelihood alternative that does not compete with livestock for grazing space. It contributes to biodiversity through pollination and supports ecosystem restoration, while offering tangible economic benefits through honey and beeswax production.
During the training, participants gained foundational skills in hive construction, colony management, and safe harvesting techniques. The session also underscored the role of beekeeping in promoting sustainable land use, benefit-sharing, and group cohesion within CLA structures.
The activity further promotes gender-responsive development by providing women who often remain behind during seasonal migrations with alternative livelihood options. Access to pasture-based beekeeping allows women to sustain livestock productivity and improve household nutrition and income security.
This initiative directly contributes to COPACSO’s strategic objective of enhancing sustainable land governance and climate adaptation in Uganda’s cattle corridor. It also aligns with national priorities on rangeland management, environmental protection, and inclusive rural development.
Building on this pilot intervention, COPACSO aims to scale up beekeeping training across other CLAs in the region, fostering integrated approaches to land use, biodiversity conservation, and economic empowerment.
