Honey, Bees, and Gorillas: The SMART Team’s Two Weeks in Uganda
We are a group of undergraduate and graduate students from Cornell University, who are part of the SMART 2020 program. We are working with Golden Bees Ltd. to develop the brand and increasing its visibility, as well as to provide tools and insights to improve company operations.
Welcome to Kampala, Uganda
1st day
Monday morning in Kampala, Uganda. We’re heading to the office of Golden Bees, there is traffic but we’re excited to meet everyone in the company. Our host Brian Mugisha, CEO of Golden Bees, is taking us to meet his team and try the best honey in the market, Bee Mine. He has been processing it since 2008 and today we are starting a two weeks work field to help his company to grow. What is Golden Bees? How are we going to work with them? What are the main challenges for this project?
The team
Coordinator: – Oscar Hernandez Team members: -Cole DeMeulemeester -Valerie Castano -Judith Martin -Claudia Poclaba
Bwindi: the beekeeping trail
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in southwestern Uganda. The park is a part of the Bwindi Forest and is situated along the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the rest in Uganda.
The challenge
Golden Bees Ltd. faces the challenge of adding value throughout the Ugandan honey industry, enhancing the consumer experience, and doing so organically, sustainably, and resiliently. To do so, the Uganda SMART Team is attempting to promote a superior branding and business strategy that will enable Golden Bees to differentiate itself among the Ugandan honey market.
Bee keeping
Bee keeping is becoming an increasingly popular business in Sub-Saharan countries such as Uganda. With low initial investments it offers a multitude of positive returns in forms of revenue through the production of honey and its by-products including propolis, beeswax, and even the bees’ venom.
“We are gonna achieve great things together with the SMART team.” Brian Mugisha, CEO of Golden Bees.
Why we are here?
Cole DeMeulemeester
“As an aspiring entrepreneur, working with Brian and Golden Bees means not only learning how to do business, but how to promote lasting impact on communities across Uganda.”
Claudia Poclaba
“Being part of this project means not only that we’ll help Golden Bees but also a whole community”
Valerie Castano
“Working with Golden Bees is not just about helping their business, but inspiring us to be better entrepreneurs and create long lasting friendships.”
Oscar Hernandez
“Businesses should be problem solvers, not only profit makers. Entrepreneurs can transform communities, Brian is one of them”
Judith Martin
“What could be sweeter than the value chain of honey Golden Bees is innovating, ultimately contributing to the alleviation of poverty and food insecurity.”
SMART 2020 