Farmers dealing in sugarcane in Busoga sub region have protested a government directive ordering the removal of community weighbridges.
They warn that the move could disrupt livelihoods and destabilise the sugarcane value chain.
The directive, issued by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, calls for the immediate closure of all roadside sugarcane weighbridges nationwide. Government cites security concerns, linking some facilities to cane theft and inaccurate measurements.
In a March 17 letter, Nabbanja directed that all weighbridges be dismantled and relocated to licensed sugar factories in line with the Sugar Regulations, 2025. The decision follows police investigations that reportedly tied some weighbridges to widespread theft and financial losses among farmers and millers.
Over the years, community weighbridges have become central to the sugarcane trade in Busoga. They provide farmers with nearby markets, reduce transport costs, and ease congestion at factories. They have also created jobs and boosted local government revenues in rural areas.
However, government argues that the largely unregulated nature of these facilities has enabled exploitation, including under-weighing and collusion within the sector.
Farmers who gathered at Kagoma in Jinja District expressed frustration, questioning both the justification and timing of the directive.
Patrick Mudhugu, chairperson of the Busoga Sugarcane Alliance, challenged the claims and demanded transparency from security agencies.
“When cattle is stolen, do you close butcheries?” Mudhugu asked. “Let police provide data on reported sugarcane theft cases before such sweeping decisions are made.”
Twalik Isabirye, chairperson of CN Sugar outgrowers in Namayingo, echoed the concerns, vowing that farmers would continue pushing for fairness in the industry.
He also questioned what he described as a contradiction between the Prime Minister’s directive and an earlier position attributed to President Yoweri Museveni, which reportedly allowed weighbridges to operate.
“We are left wondering whose directive carries more weight,” Isabirye said.
Farmers argue that removing the weighbridges will centralize control in the hands of millers, exposing them to risks such as delayed payments, long queues, and lack of transparency in weighing.
Peterson Mubiru, chairperson of the Kamuli Sugarcane Farmers Association, emphasized the facilities’ economic importance.
“These weighbridges are accessible, provide a ready market, create jobs, and save farmers from long factory queues,” he said.
Amid rising tensions, Sugar Council representatives have pledged to present farmers’ concerns to government. Elizabeth Mbeiza, the Buganda representative, said consultations in Busoga were aimed at informing a high-level meeting with Trade Minister David Bahati in Kampala.
Adding a legal dimension, Isa Budhugo, Busoga’s representative on the Council, argued that the directive is flawed, claiming it is based on regulations that were not properly approved.
“The Prime Minister cited Section 29 of the Minister’s regulations, yet these were neither debated nor agreed upon by all stakeholders,” Budhugo said. “That makes them invalid under the new Sugar Act.”
Industry insiders say the directive may be backed by some large millers, who argue that community weighbridges divert cane away from factories and reduce supply volumes. Many prefer centralized weighing systems under their control.
The standoff sets the stage for a critical engagement between government and sector stakeholders, as farmers push for a review of the directive while authorities seek to address concerns around theft and regulation.
