Long before beekeeping became a livelihood opportunity in his community, the 73-year-old Sabiiti Mbabazi had already developed a deep love for farming and tree planting. As a retired civil servant with 37 years of government service, Mbabazi returned to his farm after retirement, but agriculture had always been more than a source of income: It was a lifelong passion.
Growing up, he was fascinated by nature. His family recalls that at just four years old, he planted his first orange tree. Watching it grow nurtured his love for farming, a passion that continued into adulthood.
In 1978, Mbabazi settled on his land in Kamanya Village- Rwentumba Parish, Masindi district where he began combining crop farming with tree planting. Even while working for government, he spent his free time developing the farm. His goal was simple: create a productive farm while protecting the environment.
Like many farmers, he learnt through experience. He planted so many trees that some of his crops struggled to grow because of the shade. However, among those trees were mangoes that would later change the direction of his farming journey.
As the mango orchard matured, it attracted bees, opening Mbabazi’s eyes to the important relationship between trees, pollination and food production. His curiosity about bees soon developed into a passion for beekeeping.
What makes his story unique is how his partnership with The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) began.
“ECOTRUST didn’t look for me: I looked for ECOTRUST,” Mbabazi often says.
After hearing about an organisation that was supporting farmers to plant trees, he travelled to the ECOTRUST office in Masindi district to learn more. His determination impressed one of the forestry officers, who later visited his farm. From that visit, a long-term partnership was born.
At the time, ECOTRUST’s support focused mainly on technical guidance rather than providing free seedlings. Farmers were encouraged to invest in their own tree planting while receiving professional advice on proper forestry practices. The organisation regularly monitored tree survival and encouraged sustainable land management.
For Mbabazi, the knowledge proved invaluable.
Over the years, his farm transformed into a thriving landscape of indigenous and fruit trees. Today, those trees continue to provide firewood, improve soil health and create a favourable environment for farming. The family no longer depends on collecting firewood from natural forests because the trees on the farm provide enough fuel throughout the year.
His growing forest also laid the foundation for another successful enterprise.
Before ECOTRUST introduced community beekeeping initiatives, Mbabazi had already started experimenting with a few traditional hives made from local materials. As his interest grew, he sought more knowledge and adopted improved Kenya Top Bar (KTB) hives to increase honey production.
When ECOTRUST later introduced a community beekeeping project under the Rwentumba Community Forest Association in 2019, Mbabazi became one of its most enthusiastic participants. The organisation provided technical training on modern beekeeping practices, hive management and honey harvesting, enabling farmers to produce quality honey safely and sustainably.
The impact of beekeeping quickly became visible.
Beyond honey production, Mbabazi noticed significant improvements in the productivity of his mangoes, coffee and other crops because of increased pollination. His neighbours also benefited from the presence of bees, with many experiencing better harvests without keeping hives of their own.
Honey production has also become an important source of income. His premium natural honey has found markets across Uganda and has even reached customers in South Sudan and Kenya. Buyers continue to seek out his honey because of its quality and purity.
However, Mbabazi believes that one of the greatest benefits of working with ECOTRUST goes beyond financial gains.
The partnership has connected him with researchers, development partners, government officials and fellow farmers from across the country. These interactions have expanded his knowledge of conservation, business and sustainable agriculture while increasing the visibility of his work.
His farm has since become a learning centre where farmers regularly visit to gain practical experience in tree growing and beekeeping. Before the establishment of the community apiary, ECOTRUST even used his farm as a demonstration site to train members of the Rwentumba community.
His dedication has earned him recognition as a model farmer in his area, with several organisations and government programmes identifying him as an example of successful community-led conservation.
Although advancing age and health challenges have limited his ability to manage his apiary as actively as before, Mbabazi remains optimistic about the future. He continues to advocate for the integration of forestry and beekeeping as practical solutions for environmental conservation and improved rural livelihoods.
His journey demonstrates that lasting change often begins with individual initiative. Rather than waiting for opportunities to come to him, Mbabazi sought knowledge, embraced innovation and built lasting partnerships that transformed his farm and inspired his community.
His story is a reminder that conservation is not only about protecting forests but also about creating sustainable livelihoods. Through trees, bees and a willingness to learn, Sabiiti Mbabazi has shown how one farmer’s determination can create lasting benefits for both people and nature.
