• Uganda positions 4th Africa Apimondia Symposium (#AfRAS 2026) as a platform for regional trade and market expansion.

• The country produces 210,000 metric tonnes of honey annually, seeking to increase value-added exports.

• Stakeholders focus on innovation, processing standards, and regional integration to strengthen the apiculture value chain.

Uganda is leveraging the upcoming 4th Africa Apimondia Symposium (AfRAS 2026), scheduled for August 25-28, 2026, to position itself as a continental hub for honey production, value-added processing, and export-led growth. Organized by the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation (UNADO) in partnership with Bees for Development and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the symposium will gather producers, researchers, investors, and policy-makers from across Africa and beyond.

The roadmap for the symposium was officially launched on March 12, 2026, during a breakfast meeting at Hotel Africana in Kampala. The meeting brought together government officials, NGOs, research institutions, and actors from the honey and pollination sectors. Dr. Anna Rose Ademun, representing Minister Hon. Bright Rwamirama, emphasized that the symposium is a critical opportunity to enhance agricultural value chains, improve rural livelihoods, and expand Uganda’s presence in global honey markets.

Uganda currently produces around 210,000 metric tonnes of honey per year (Monitor, 2026), making it one of Africa’s largest honey producers. However, much of this output is exported as raw honey, limiting potential economic gains. The AfRAS 2026 Symposium aims to promote value-added production, including refined honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and other derivative products. Stakeholders at the breakfast meeting highlighted the importance of improving processing infrastructure, packaging, quality certification, and branding to meet international standards.

Dr. Biryomumaisho Dickson, a leading apiculture expert, noted that the symposium will also provide a platform for investment and innovation in the sector. “By strengthening production standards and supporting smallholder beekeepers, Uganda can increase competitiveness, attract regional and global buyers, and transform apiculture into a strategic economic sector,” he said.

The event will foster collaboration between government, private sector actors, and international partners, including the European Union in Uganda, Trias East Africa, Oxfam, Enabel, the Mastercard Foundation, Makerere University, and Norad. Focus areas include market access, technological adoption in beekeeping, and scaling smallholder operations. By coordinating technical support and investment opportunities, the symposium is expected to enhance regional trade links, create jobs, and strengthen the continent’s honey supply chains.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang