The Ministry of Trade has closed several weighbridges in the Bunyoro region’s sugarcane-growing districts in a move to combat rampant sugarcane theft.
“Yes, I shut down all those weighbridges because they were enabling rampant sugarcane theft in the area,” said Mwebesa in a telephone call. “They were causing a lot of confusion. People’s sugarcane was being stolen at night from gardens and sold at these weighbridges.”
Ministry officials raided Masindi this past Friday, closing weighbridges operated by certain farmers’ associations accused of facilitating illegal trade, theft, and the poaching of cane from legitimate sugar companies.
Mwebesa explained that the decision followed numerous reports of stolen sugarcane being brought to these weighbridges and sold illegally to independent buyers. “The closure is part of a broader strategy to protect the interests of legitimate farmers and millers,” Mwebesa said, adding, “This is a necessary step to protect the industry.”
Security Crackdown
The weighbridge closures coincide with intensified security operations against sugarcane poaching. Last week, security personnel, including private guards, police, and UPDF soldiers patrolling Kinyara Sugar Ltd’s estate, intercepted a Tata Lorry (registration number UAP 542F) loaded with stolen sugarcane. The driver and loaders abandoned the vehicle and fled.
Police towed the truck to Kinyara Police Post for further investigation. One suspect, a boda boda cyclist named Isma Muhamad, was arrested at the scene and later released on police bond.
Masindi District Criminal Investigations Officer, Joseph Karwani, confirmed the ongoing investigation under police reference 05/17/02/2025. “We are investigating this matter thoroughly. These illegal activities have persisted for too long, and we are committed to ensuring the culprits are brought to justice,” Karwani stated.
Police investigations indicate that stolen cane is often transported using small trucks, tuk-tuks, and motorcycles before being weighed and sold at these weighbridge stations.
Advocate Simon Kasangaki, who has represented numerous affected farmers, described the severity of the problem. “These weighbridges have been complicit in the illegal trade of sugarcane. Poachers cut cane from the interior of a plantation, leaving the outer rows intact to deceive owners into believing their crops are safe,” he revealed.
Kasangaki added that poachers often disguise their trucks to resemble those of Kinyara Sugar Ltd, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and stolen deliveries.
Economic and Legal Implications
The illegal sugarcane trade results in significant financial losses for both farmers and the government. Stolen cane is unregistered, evades taxation, and negatively impacts revenue collection.
“Every tonne of stolen cane that bypasses official channels means lost revenue for farmers and the government. It affects the entire sugar industry’s value chain,” Kasangaki noted.
Earlier this year, the Masindi District Security Committee and District Council passed resolutions banning sugarcane transport by light vehicles and motorcycles. District Speaker Moses Kirya emphasized that the ban served the public interest. “We acted to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and ensure the government does not lose taxes from poached cane,” Kirya stated.
Farmers have welcomed the Ministry of Trade’s intervention. Phinehas Kyotasobora, Vice Board Chairperson of the Masindi Sugarcane Growers’ Association Limited (MSGAL), recounted losing nine tonnes of sugarcane to thieves who sold it at one of the now-closed weighbridges.
“I tracked the culprits and managed to recover part of my losses through an out-of-court settlement. However, not every farmer has the resources to pursue such cases. We need stricter enforcement to protect our investments,” Kyotasobora urged.
“Moving forward, we will engage all stakeholders to establish mechanisms that allow fair trade while eliminating avenues for theft and poaching. We will sort it,” Mwebesa observed.