Sugarcane farmers in Bunyoro and Tooro sub-regions have nominated Robert Atugonza as their representative to the newly formed Uganda Sugar Industry Stakeholder Council.
The council was created by the Sugarcane (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was passed by Parliament on April 15 this year.
President Yoweri Museveni signed the Bill into law on May 30, during a meeting with sugar millers and sugarcane farmers at Statehouse, Entebbe.
The Sugar Industry Stakeholder Council will regulate the sugar industry and will be composed of representatives from both sugarcane farmers and millers, as well as permanent secretaries from the ministries of agriculture and finance.
At a meeting held at Kolping Hotel in Hoima city last week, leaders of sugarcane farmers’ associations in Bunyoro and Tooro unanimously voted Atugonza after he was nominated by Max Isingoma, the chairperson of Hoima Sugarcane Farmers Association.
“I am pleased to nominate Atugonza as a representative of sugarcane farmers in Bunyoro and Tooro sub-regions to the sugar council. He is knowledgeable about the sugar industry and has a leadership experience,” Isingoma said.
Over 50 leaders of sugarcane farmers’ associations that supply Kinyara, Hoima, Bwendero, Kiryandongo and Kyenjojo sugar factories voted Atugonza, who is also the chairperson of Masindi Sugarcane Growers Association Limitedd (MSGAL).
He thanked the farmers for entrusting him and promised to push for their interests in the sugar council.
“We shall use our position at the sugar council to defend and promote the interests of farmers and safeguard the sugar industry,” Atugonza said.
The leaders that voted were from MSGAL, Bwendero Sugarcane Out Growers Association, Kyenjojo Sugarcane Farmers Association, Kiryandongo Sugarcane Farmers Association and Hoima Sugarcane Out Growers association.
The leaders also resolved to start the Bunyoro Tooro Sugarcane Farmers Association in order to unite sugarcane farmers in Tooro and Bunyoro.
Patrick Byamukama, an executive member of MSGAL, was voted as chairperson Bunyoro-Tooro Sugarcane Farmers Association.
He is deputised by Moses Batinire Barwane from Kyenjojo Sugarcane Farmers Association.
Shukuran Errenest was elected as general secretary, George Kugonza as treasurer, while former privatisation state minister Aston Kajara as publicity secretary.
“We should unite and have a common bargaining power, so that farmers are not paid varying prices yet they are in the same region,” Byamukama said.
In a joint resolution by the sugarcane farmers, they revealed that the newly formed Bunyoro-Tooro Sugarcane Farmers Association will foster unity among sugarcane farmers in the two sub-regions, advocate good prices, improve the bargaining power, lobby for Government support, advocate fair tax regimes and agitate for good policies for the sugar industry.
Background
On June 16, trade minister Francis Mwebesa wrote to the chairpersons of sugarcane outgrowers associations and cooperatives from sugarcane growing areas of Bunyoro, central, Busoga and northern Uganda to nominate four people who will represent them on the sugar council.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Leaders of sugarcane farmers’ associations from Bunyoro and Tooro sub-regions after attending the RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE meeting at Kolping Hotel in Hoima city, last week. Inset is Byamukama. (Photo by Yosam Gukwachi)
