By Jumah Kakomo
Sugarcane farmers in Masindi, under their umbrella body Bunyoro Sugarcane Farmers Co-operatives United Limited, have issued an ultimatum to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, threatening to publicly denounce the ruling party if their weighbridges are not fully reinstated. The farmers argue that the closure of the weighbridges has significantly harmed their livelihoods by reducing their earnings. Without access to their own weighbridges, they are now forced to rely on Kinyara Sugar Limited for transportation, which the farmers claim is exploiting them by offering lower prices for their sugarcane.
The group has demanded that the government reinstate the weighbridges within a set timeframe. If this demand is not met, they have vowed to seek alternative political representation and take further action. Mahmoud Kazimbiraine, Chairman of the Bunyoro Sugarcane Farmers’ Cooperative Union Limited, warned that failure to address the issue could lead to widespread protests and demonstrations. He called on the government to reconsider its position and find a solution that benefits all parties involved.
The dispute highlights deep concerns about the exploitation of sugarcane farmers, particularly by Kinyara Sugar Limited, and the perceived lack of support from the government. Many farmers depend on sugarcane production as their primary income source and have long complained of unfair pricing and market manipulation. The situation has now escalated, with farmers accusing the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives of colluding with Kinyara and the police to close their weighbridges, further entrenching the company’s dominance in the sector.
Bigirwa Cleophus, Treasurer of the Bunyoro Sugarcane Farmers’ Cooperative Union Limited, criticized the Ministry of Trade for failing to protect the interests of the farmers and instead supporting Kinyara’s position. He claims that the ministry has neglected its responsibility to enforce policies meant to regulate the sugarcane industry and protect farmers’ rights.
“We are very disappointed with the Ministry of Trade,” Bigirwa said. “They are supposed to protect our interests, but instead, they are working with Kinyara Sugar Limited to exploit us.”
Steven Mugisha, another farmer, accused the police of harassing and intimidating those attempting to protest the closure of the weighbridges. He argued that the police are working in concert with Kinyara to suppress their rights. “We are being treated like slaves,” Mugisha lamented, “The police are always there to intimidate us and suppress our rights.”
Kazimbiraine refuted allegations made by Kinyara Sugar Limited, claiming that the company’s concerns about sugarcane theft due to the weighbridge system are unfounded. “If there has been theft, it cannot be attributed to the bridges,” Kazimbiraine explained. “At the weighbridge, we record both the farmer’s and the driver’s details, so we can trace the cane from its source to its destination.”
The police, however, have defended the decision to close the weighbridges. Julius Hakiza, spokesperson for the Albertine region, confirmed that the closure was carried out under the orders of the Ministry of Trade following an assessment that deemed the weighbridges substandard. Hakiza added that an existing agreement between the farmers and Kinyara requires the farmers to sell their sugarcane exclusively to the company, which he believes the farmers should respect.
The controversy has sparked outrage among sugarcane farmers, with many calling on the Ministry of Trade to address their concerns and reopen the weighbridges. Farmers are also urging the ministry to take steps to regulate the sugarcane industry more effectively to ensure fair trade practices and protect their rights.
This ongoing dispute underscores the broader challenges faced by Uganda’s sugarcane farmers, who often struggle with unfair pricing, exploitation by powerful companies like Kinyara, and a lack of meaningful support from government agencies.
