Namayingo cane farmers demand decision on stalled CN Sugar factory

What the report says

Namayingo sugarcane farmers are urging Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to resolve a dispute over the licence of CN Sugar, saying the stalled project has disrupted their livelihoods and left cane unsold or deteriorating in the fields. According to Nile Post, the factory was initially approved for Kifuyo Village but construction stopped after the licence was withdrawn, creating a market gap for farmers who had planted cane in expectation of supplying a nearby mill.

Farmers said they have been forced to haul cane to more distant factories, raising transport costs and cutting into earnings. The article says some cane is drying in the fields, while one farmer described taking home only a small profit after deductions. The farmers are not opposing sales to other millers, but they say the long distances make the arrangement increasingly unsustainable.

The report says a National Sugar Council team recently visited Namayingo, Busia and Mayuge districts to examine the licence issue, meet stakeholders and inspect land linked to the proposed factory. CN Sugar management said it has more than 17,000 acres of land, including about 8,000 acres under cane. The council is expected to submit findings to the ministry, which will decide the company’s future.

The dispute also reflects wider tensions in Uganda’s sugar sector over licensing, land requirements and competition for cane supplies. Nile Post reported that representatives of existing sugar companies argue any new mill must comply with regulatory standards and have adequate cane estates before operating.