Leaders of Uganda’s sugarcane farmers have expressed deep frustration with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mwebesa Francis over what they describe as unfair interference in the nomination of representatives to the newly established Sugarcane Stakeholders’ Council.
Speaking to the press on Friday, Budhugo Isa, the Acting Chairman of the Uganda National Association of Sugarcane Growers, and Semujju Muhamad, Chairperson of Lugazi Sugarcane Outgrowers Cooperative Society, accused the minister of sidelining candidates who were democratically chosen by majority farmer organizations.
Budhugo noted that after President Yoweri Museveni signed the Sugar Amendment Act 2025 in May, farmers were asked to nominate four representatives—one from each of the four sugarcane-growing regions of Uganda—to sit on the council. He explained that in Busoga sub-region alone, 11 sugarcane growers’ associations convened and overwhelmingly nominated him, with nine groups backing his candidacy.
“To our disappointment, the minister ignored the democratic process and instead handpicked an individual from only one organization. We cannot allow this. If he has failed to handle the matter fairly, let him come to the ground and meet all the associations,” Budhugo said, warning that failure to correct the decision could spark serious conflict.
Semujju Muhamad echoed similar grievances from the central region, where four out of five associations had agreed on a candidate, only for the minister to reject the choice. He argued that it was unfair for government to consult farmers, allow them to invest time and resources in meetings, and then discard their consensus.
“This is a betrayal. If four out of five organizations decide on someone, that is the majority voice. Imposing another person on us is unacceptable,” Semujju stressed, adding that farmers would not recognize any imposed leaders.
The farmer representatives also raised alarm over continued exploitation by sugar millers who deduct up to 5% from cane deliveries under the guise of “trash” or leaves. They accused millers of defying presidential directives to stop the practice, insisting that the so-called trash is used profitably for generating electricity and producing by-products.
“We have been patient enough. The law is now clear, and there is no reason for this exploitation to continue. Beyond Monday’s Cabinet meeting, we shall decide on the next course of action, even if it means petitioning the President directly,” Semujju declared.
The farmers emphasized that their push is not only about leadership representation but also about ensuring that the new council begins work immediately to regulate pricing, harmonize relationships between millers and growers, and end exploitation in the sugar sector.