By Flavia Ajok
Sugarcane farmers in Bunyoro and Tooro regions have welcomed President Museveni’s directive stopping sugar cane millers and Sugarcane weigh bridge operators from deducting trash charges from sugarcane farmers.
While meeting sugarcane farmers, sugarcane millers at Kityerera State lodge in Mayuge district on 6th August, 2025, President Museveni directed Sugar millers and operators of sugarcane weigh bridges to stop deducting a trash levy from farmers.
The President was responding to concerns raised by farmers who submitted that there is a continued deduction of a 5% levy from farmers delivering sugarcane to factories, a cost management charge that was supposed to be scrapped under the newly amended sugar Act.
Trash deductions are done at some sugarcane mills and weigh bridges in Masindi district and other regions in the country.
The trash deductions which have caused persistent grumbling among farmers. According to farmers, the trash is deducted from them but the same trash is used in producing bagasse, electricity, fertilizer and other products at sugar factories.
The President urged sugar manufacturers to reject sugarcane deliveries at factories that are mixed with husks and tops.
The President also directed the trade ministry to complete constituting the sugar industry stakeholders council that has been created by the Sugar Amendment Act which the President accented in May this year.
Patrick Byamukama, the Chairman of Bunyoro-Tooro Sugarcane Farmers Association says farmers in the two regions are happy with the President’s directives.
He says sugar factories should emulate the good practices of Kinyara Sugar Ltd to it’s farmers.
Robert Atugonza, the Chairman of Masindi Sugarcane Growers Association Ltd said the President’s directives will protect sugarcane farmers from losses.
He said trash deductions from farmers have been reducing the profits of farmers.
Atugonza observed that much as farmers are suffering with trash deductions elsewhere, farmers are pleased that Kinyara sugar Ltd does not make such deductions.
Sugar cane farmers have also welcomed the President’s directive for the ministry of Trade to expedite the operationalization of the Sugar industry stakeholders Council which has been given powers to regulate the sugar industry in the country.
The sugar industry stakeholders Council will have 4 representatives of sugarcane farmers, 3 representatives of sugar millers and permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Trade, Agriculture and Finance.
