Masindi, Uganda: The Masindi District Council has resolved to relocate roadside sugarcane weighbridges from farming communities to approved sites along major highways in a bid to tackle cane theft and cut out middlemen in the sugar trade, The Independent reported.
The decision was taken during a council session chaired by District Speaker Moses Kiirya after weeks of discussions involving government officials, security agencies and sugar industry players.
The move follows a February operation in which the government, with support from the Uganda Police Force, closed four roadside weighbridges at Katuugo, Rukondwa, Kihande and Mirya. Authorities said the closures were prompted by investigations into increasing cases of sugarcane theft in Masindi and surrounding areas.
District Secretary for Production and Trade Geoffrey Bigabwa had earlier proposed shifting the weighbridges to highway points leading to licensed sugar factories, saying the plan would bring operations in line with the law.
During debate, workers’ representative Denis Tumwine pushed for an amendment to ensure the relocation strictly follows national sugar regulations and the Sugar Act. He urged councillors to avoid making decisions that conflict with existing laws.
District Chairperson Cosmas Byaruhanga backed the amendment, citing provisions that require sugarcane to be weighed only at licensed premises. He said the aim is to stop intermediaries from buying cane cheaply from farmers and reselling it to factories at higher prices, a practice he noted leaves growers at a loss.
Kyatiri Town Council representative John Kisarach supported the move, saying removing middlemen would help farmers earn more from their produce.
The council also endorsed several new rules to streamline the sector. Trucks carrying sugarcane must now display the names of the sugar companies they serve. The use of motorcycles, three-wheelers and pickup trucks to transport cane has been banned, as has the loading and offloading of cane along major roads.
Leaders further agreed to create a district database of sugarcane farmers and the acreage they cultivate. Farmers who are not contracted to a miller must provide a letter from their Local Council 1 chairperson confirming the source of their cane before transport.
The action comes amid growing complaints from farmers about theft. Labongo Sub-county councillor Zam Nsubuga said she personally lost harvested cane to thieves.
Earlier, State Minister for Trade Wilson Mbadi met millers and leaders of the Bunyoro Sugarcane Farmers Cooperative Union on February 17, but no agreement was reached on where weighbridges should be located. Subsequent security meetings recommended relocating the facilities to Mijeera and Nakitoma in Nakasongola District or Kafu in Kimengo Sub-county.
The council’s recommendations and proposed sites will now be forwarded to the Ministry of Trade for final guidance.
Speaker Kiirya said the district will also require all sugar companies operating in Masindi to formally register with local authorities and disclose details of their farmer networks, plantation size and community support programs. He added that weighbridges should be run only by licensed sugar companies to restore order and protect farmers’ interests.
