NAMAYINGO — Sugarcane farmers in Namayingo District have demanded answers from members of the Sugar Council over the prolonged delay in licensing CN Sugar Company, saying the stalled project has left them facing growing economic challenges.
The farmers raised their concerns during a meeting at the stalled factory site in Kifuyo Village, where they questioned the continued delay in allowing the company to commence operations.
Construction at the site has remained stalled, with machinery lying idle and parts of the project area increasingly covered by vegetation.
Some farmers accused members of the Sugar Council of failing to adequately address the licensing issue. They alleged that officials had made repeated visits to CN Sugar while claiming to be facilitating the project, but instead solicited money from investors.
The allegations were made during the meeting and could not immediately be independently verified.
The farmers also accused the Sugar Council of failing to act on a directive issued through Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja calling for the licensing process for CN Sugar to be expedited.
The licensing dispute has reportedly left farmers uncertain about the future market for their sugarcane, with some saying they have been forced to transport their produce over long distances to other mills.
Before meeting the farmers, members of the Sugar Council held a closed-door session that lasted about four hours.
The meeting was attended by 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 members of his council, farmers’ representatives and officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry led by Kiiza David, who represented the minister.
The meeting was chaired by Robert Atugonza, who represented the Sugar Council chairperson.
When the officials emerged from the meeting, farmers, including Deo Disiko and Idah Kigada, described the difficulties they face in marketing their sugarcane.
They said middlemen often buy their cane at what they described as low prices, leaving farmers with limited returns from their investment.
The LC1 chairperson of Sango A Village in Kifuyo Parish, Buyinja Sub-county, became emotional as he appealed to leaders to address the situation.
He said the stalled factory was affecting the community’s economic prospects and questioned how the area could achieve the NRM’s stated goal of “prosperity for all” if major investments remained inactive.
He said an operational sugar factory would create employment opportunities, provide a reliable market for farmers and increase local government revenue.
Leaders from several sub-counties in neighbouring Mayuge District, including Bumairo, also raised concerns. They said they had invested their own money in sugarcane production but were struggling because the company they expected to buy their cane from had not started operations.
They said farmers were consequently being forced to transport their produce long distances to other mills.
Namayingo District Chairperson Ronald Sanya urged the Sugar Council to resolve the licensing dispute.
He said the district could consider passing a resolution restricting sugarcane growing in the area if the matter remains unresolved, arguing that farmers should not continue investing in a crop without reliable markets.
He also called on other sugar mills buying cane from Namayingo to support efforts to resolve the dispute surrounding CN Sugar.
Responding to the concerns, Atugonza said the council’s visit was intended to further assess what was required for CN Sugar to begin operations.
He said the council would prepare a report and submit it in accordance with the law.
Atugonza explained that the licensing process had been affected by objections raised by other sugar companies, particularly issues relating to land.
He appealed to farmers not to abandon sugarcane growing while the matter is being addressed.
After the meeting, officials began inspecting CN Sugar’s land holdings, starting with approximately 3,000 acres in Nawampogo Village, Bukabu Parish, Bukaboli Sub-county in Mayuge District.
Journalists were later asked to leave the tour. Officials explained that some of the information being discussed was confidential and that allowing journalists to remain could affect the council’s report.
The dispute comes as the CN Sugar project enters its third year without commencing operations, despite calls for the licensing process to be expedited.
For farmers who invested in sugarcane in anticipation of a nearby market, the continued delay has intensified concerns about access to reliable buyers, prices and the future of the crop in the region.
The Sugar Council is expected to compile its findings and submit a report on the matter in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework.