Richard Aziku

Richard Aziku is a farmer from Dadamu Parish in Oluko Division, Arua. He started beekeeping as a hobby in his youth, long before he understood its true potential.

The turning point came when he began working with Honey Pride Arua (U) Ltd. "By the time I received more skills and knowledge about bee keeping, particularly when I started working with Honey Pride Arua (U) Ltd, I realized I was actually far behind and I needed to move faster. This encouraged me to consider bee keeping very seriously."

Richard's philosophy has been shaped profoundly by the bees themselves. He is in awe of their relentless work ethic — operating almost around the clock, pollinating crops, producing honey, sustaining ecosystems — all without asking for anything in return. "Bees work almost 24 hours, more than me. They feed themselves, they do everything, but in the end, they give me food, and they give me money."

For Richard, beekeeping is not just about personal income. He believes bee farmers play a crucial role in food security. "As a farmer, our crop yield depends a lot on bees doing the pollination. So, to me bee farming means helping many more farmers to realize good crop yield every time."

His ambition is clear: to move from subsistence farming to market-oriented agriculture, increasing income and eradicating poverty for his family, which includes his wife, children, and grandchildren.