PRO Industries Denies Withholding Shs2.5bn from Maize Suppliers

What the report says

PRO Industries has denied allegations that it is withholding more than Shs2.5 billion from maize suppliers, saying an internal check found disputes in delivery records and what it described as inflated claims. The company said it would only pay amounts it can verify through its own weighbridge and accounts records, and it has called for reconciliation before any final settlement.

The dispute surfaced after a protest at the company’s facility in Ndibuluungi, Butuntumula Sub-county, Luweero District, on August 13, 2026, where more than 70 maize traders reportedly demanded payment. In its statement, the firm said it had invited the supplier involved to reconciliation meetings, but those discussions did not happen. It also said it proposed paying half of the undisputed amount first, with the balance to follow after records were checked, but that proposal was rejected.

Founder and Executive Director Vasundhara Oswal said the company had seen evidence of alleged threats to weighbridge staff and claimed there were attempts to manipulate records. Director Riddhi Oswal added that one supplier’s conduct should not be seen as representative of the wider group of farmers and traders who sell to the business.

The company said it remains willing to settle legitimate claims and is keeping relevant records for possible cooperation with authorities. More broadly, the case highlights how payment disputes in agricultural supply chains can turn on delivery documentation, weighing records and trust between processors and suppliers.