Sugarcane farmers in Namayingo District, Uganda, have expressed frustration over the delayed licensing of CN Sugar Company, whose factory project has stalled for three years despite a presidential directive to expedite the process. The farmers, who had invested heavily in sugarcane production in anticipation of the factory's operations, accuse the Sugar Council of frustrating the investment. They claim that some council members visit the company's premises, soliciting money under the guise of offering assistance.
The confrontation took place at the stalled CN Sugar factory site in Kifuyo Village, where farmers expressed growing frustration over the prolonged inactivity of the project. Construction at the site has ground to a halt, with machinery abandoned and sections of the premises overgrown with bush. The farmers blame the Sugar Council for disregarding a directive issued through Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, which called for the swift licensing of CN Sugar.
Before engaging the farmers, Sugar Council members held a closed-door meeting with officials from CN Sugar, Bugiri Sugar, and Kakira Sugar, alongside the Namayingo District Police Commander and Resident District Commissioner. The meeting, chaired by Robert Atugonza, who represented the Sugar Council chairperson, lasted approximately four hours. Journalists were barred from the meeting, which discussed the outstanding issues surrounding CN Sugar's licensing and the stalled factory project.
Farmers Deo Disiko and Idah Kigada described the challenges they face in marketing their sugarcane, accusing middlemen of exploiting their desperation by offering extremely low prices. The absence of an operational factory has significantly weakened their bargaining power, leaving them with limited options for selling their cane despite substantial investments in cultivation, harvesting, and transportation.
The LC1 chairperson of Sango A Village in Kifuyo Parish, Buyinja Sub-county, became emotional, accusing leaders of failing to uphold the National Resistance Movement's (NRM) principle of prosperity for all. He questioned how the community could achieve meaningful economic progress when an investment expected to create employment and expand business opportunities had remained dormant for three years.
Namayingo District Chairperson Ronald Sanya issued a stern warning to the Sugar Council, threatening to mobilise the district leadership to pass a resolution banning sugarcane growing in the area if CN Sugar continues to be denied a licence. Sanya argued that the district could not continue encouraging farmers to invest in sugarcane production when the anticipated market remained uncertain and farmers continued to suffer financial losses.
Responding to the concerns, Atugonza said the Sugar Council's visit was intended to assess the outstanding requirements that CN Sugar must fulfil before commencing operations. The council's response comes amid growing frustration among local leaders, who view the factory as a potentially significant investment in the district's agricultural and industrial development.
Key points
- The delayed licensing of CN Sugar Company has stalled a factory project expected to create employment and expand business opportunities in Namayingo District.
- Sugarcane farmers in Namayingo District accuse the Sugar Council of frustrating the investment and soliciting money under the guise of offering assistance.
- The district chairperson has threatened to ban sugarcane growing in the area if CN Sugar continues to be denied a licence.
