KAMPALA,Uganda: The Ministry of Water and Environment, in partnership with the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation (TUNADO) and other stakeholders, has launched the Uganda National Agroforestry Strategy ,an initiative aimed at strengthening the agriculture sector with particular emphasis on supporting apiculture.
The strategy was unveiled during the End-of-Year National Apiculture Multi-Stakeholder Platform held under the theme “Sustaining Bee Health & the Environment through Agroforestry and Regulated Use of Agrochemicals.”
Its overarching goal is to integrate trees into all farming systems to enhance livelihoods, improve ecosystem services, and contribute to climate change mitigation.
While launching the strategy, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, said it provides Uganda with a clear, coordinated framework for scaling up agroforestry nationwide. He noted that widespread adoption of agroforestry will help restore degraded landscapes, protect biodiversity, strengthen climate-resilient livelihoods, and support the country’s transition toward a greener and more prosperous future.
TUNADO Executive Director, Dickson Biryomumaisho, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting agroforestry, including the planting and conservation of high-value and fruit trees alongside crops and livestock. He said this approach not only diversifies household incomes but also protects vital bee habitats. Biryomumaisho added that beekeepers continue to face challenges such as deforestation and the misuse of agrochemicals—issues the new strategy seeks to address to create a more sustainable environment for apiculture.
The launch was supported by several development partners, including We Effect (Sweden), Trias, Wood en Daad, and others, who pledged continued support for sustainable land management and the conservation of pollinators.
