By Eric Yiga
A high-powered team from the Sugar Cane Council has completed a two-day inspection of land earmarked for the CN Sugar factory in Kifuyo village, Namayingo District, following a firm directive from Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
Three weeks ago, the Right Honourable Prime Minister ordered the Council to immediately process the operating licence for the factory, which has been under construction for nearly three years. In a strongly worded instruction, she directed the Council to visit the site, examine all cited obstacles, verify the availability of sufficient land, confirm the presence of outgrower farmers, and establish the sources of sugarcane.
This Friday, a committee led by David Atugonza arrived in the area to implement the Prime Minister’s instructions. The team spent about four hours in a closed-door meeting at the factory site before holding a session with local farmers. The farmers did not mince their words, expressing frustration over the prolonged delay in licensing the plant.
From Namayingo, the team proceeded to neighbouring Mayuge District. There, District Chairperson Ronald Sanya issued a stern warning, declaring that if the Sugar Cane Council fails to grant CN Sugar the licence, the district leadership will pass a resolution banning sugarcane growing in Namayingo.
The inspection team later moved to the Bugisu region, where it assessed more than 8,000 acres of land suitable for sugarcane cultivation.
Some of the abandoned rusting sugar mill machine at CN factory in Namayingo district
Several sugarcane farmers from areas neighbouring the factory site welcomed the Council’s visit. They said the inspection has given them renewed hope that the long-awaited factory will finally open. The farmers dismissed persistent claims that there is insufficient land or too few growers in the area.
“We are tired of ferrying our cane to distant factories. The transport costs are high and the returns are very low,” one farmer said. “We are looking forward to this factory starting operations so that we can sell our cane nearby and earn better.”
Atugonza, who chaired the inspection committee, confirmed that the team had seen adequate land. He said a report would be submitted the following day to the Minister and the full Council, which will then decide on the way forward.
Rashid Kakungulu, the manager of CN Sugar, expressed gratitude for the Council’s visit. “We thank the Council for coming to inspect the land and silence those who have been opposing us with false claims,” he said. “We are ready to start operations at any time and are now awaiting the Council’s final decision.”
The CN Sugar factory was commissioned nearly three years ago, but operations have remained stalled amid unresolved licensing requirements. The latest inspection and the Prime Minister’s intervention have raised expectations among farmers and local leaders that the plant may finally be cleared to begin crushing cane.
Part of CN sugar factory which was been contructed at Kifuyo in Namayingo district.
