Furious sugarcane farmers in Namayingo District have confronted members of the Sugar Council, demanding answers over the prolonged failure to grant CN Sugar Company a licence despite a clear presidential directive.
The farmers, who had gathered at the stalled factory site in Kifuyo village, pinned the Sugar Council to be corrupt and always visits CN sugar pretending to help them, yet they just take advantage to just solicit money from the investors
. Construction at the site has ground to a complete halt. Machinery lies abandoned and the grounds are steadily being overtaken by bush after work began and then stopped.
The farmers accuse the Sugar Council of defying a directive issued through Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja that ordered the body to quickly licence CN Sugar after the project had already remained stalled for three years.
Before meeting the farmers, Sugar Council members held a closed-door session lasting about four hours. Journalists were barred from attending. Present were officials from CN Sugar, Bugiri Sugar and Kakira Sugar, the District Police Commander, Resident District Commissioner, Officer in Charge of police, Namayingo District Chairperson Ronald Sanya and his council, farmers’ leaders, and a Ministry of Trade and Industry team led by Kiiza David, who represented the Minister.
The meeting was chaired by Robert Atugonza, who represented the Sugar Council chairperson.
When the officials finally emerged, farmers including Deo Disiko and Idah Kigada described the hardships they face. They spoke of middlemen buying their cane at throwaway prices and the heavy losses that follow.
The LC1 chairperson of Sango A village in Kifuyo parish, Buyinja Sub-county, became emotional. He accused leaders of abandoning the NRM principle of “prosperity for all,” said the community had no path to development while the factory remained idle. He listed expected benefits of an operational factory, including reduced unemployment and higher local revenue.
Chairpersons of several sub-counties in neighbouring Mayuge District, among them Bumairo, told the meeting they had invested their own money in sugarcane only to find the company they relied on still inactive. They have been forced to haul cane long distances with little benefit.
Namayingo District Chairperson Ronald Sanya issued a stern warning. He vowed that if the Sugar Council continues to withhold the licence from CN Sugar, the district will pass a resolution banning sugarcane growing in the area so that any company seeking cane will have to look elsewhere. He also cautioned other mills currently buying cane from Namayingo to stop working against CN Sugar.
Atugonza responded that the council’s visit was meant to further examine what is required for CN Sugar to begin operations. A report will be prepared and submitted in accordance with the law.
The delay, he explained, stems from objections raised by other sugar companies, particularly over land issues. He appealed to farmers not to abandon sugarcane growing.
After the meeting the officials began a tour of CN Sugar’s land holdings, starting with approximately 3,000 acres in Nawampogo village, Bukabu parish, Bukaboli Sub-county in Mayuge District. Journalists were ordered to leave shortly after the tour started. Officials said their presence was not required and that they might hear confidential details that could compromises their report
The project has now been stalled for three years despite the presidential directive that the Sugar Council should move swiftly to issue the licence.
