Sugarcane farmers in the Bunyoro and Tooro regions have welcomed President Yoweri Museveni’s recent directive halting the deduction of trash charges by sugarcane millers and weighbridge operators.
Farmers in Masindi District, who have long faced deductions for trash at sugarcane weighbridges, are celebrating the Presidential intervention as a significant relief.
During a meeting with sugarcane farmers and millers at Kityerera State Lodge in Mayuge District on August 6, 2025, President Museveni instructed sugar millers and weighbridge operators to immediately stop deducting the 5% trash levy from farmers’ deliveries. This charge, originally introduced as a cost management fee, was meant to be abolished under the recently amended Sugar Act.
Farmers voiced concerns that these deductions have continued despite the legislative changes. They argue that although the trash—comprising husks and tops—is removed from their harvests, it is later utilized by factories to produce valuable by-products such as bagasse, electricity, and fertilizers.
President Museveni emphasized that sugar factories should simply reject sugarcane mixed with excessive husks and tops, rather than penalizing all farmers with blanket deductions.
He also directed the Ministry of Trade to expedite the formation of the Sugar Industry Stakeholders Council, mandated under the Sugar Amendment Act, which he signed into law in May 2025.
Patrick Byamukama, Chairman of the Bunyoro-Tooro Sugarcane Farmers Association, praised the directive, saying it brings much-needed fairness to the industry. He urged sugar factories to adopt the practices of Kinyara Sugar Ltd, which does not impose trash deductions on farmers.
“The transparency and farmer-friendly approach at Kinyara has built trust between the factory and growers,” Byamukama noted.
Robert Atugonza, Chairman of the Masindi Sugarcane Growers Association Ltd, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the President’s directive will help protect farmers from unnecessary financial losses.
“Trash deductions have been cutting into farmers’ profits. This directive is a win for all sugarcane growers,” Atugonza said.
He also commended Kinyara Sugar Ltd for its pro-farmer policies, contrasting them with practices at other mills where farmers continue to suffer from unjustified charges.
Farmers across the affected regions have also expressed support for the expedited operationalization of the Sugar Industry Stakeholders Council. The council is expected to play a central role in regulating the sugar industry and ensuring the voices of farmers are adequately represented.
Once established, the council will comprise four representatives of sugarcane farmers, three representatives from sugar millers, and the permanent secretaries from the Ministries of Trade, Agriculture, and Finance.
