By Joseph Sooka

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged a significant intervention to bolster the Busoga sugarcane industry, committing to acquire the Mayuge Sugar Factory and transfer its ownership directly to the region’s sugarcane farmers. This move fulfills a key promise made during his 2021 election campaign, aimed at empowering farmers and addressing long-standing grievances against millers.

The announcement came during a strategic meeting with sugarcane farmers and millers held at Kityelera State Lodge in Mayuge District on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. President Museveni revealed that the current owners of Mayuge Sugar Factory had recently approached him with an offer to sell the facility to the government. He put the final decision to the assembled farmers, who responded with resounding cheers and chants of “Yes Mzee, buy the factory!”

The gathering brought together sugarcane farmers from across the country to deliberate on the progress, challenges, and sustainability of the sugarcane industry. In Busoga, where the crop has become a dominant source of livelihood, farmers have consistently voiced concerns over low prices and alleged exploitation by millers.

Isa Budhugo, a prominent leader of sugarcane out-growers, articulated the farmers’ frustrations. “They deduct 5% claiming it’s trash, yet our sugarcane is cut clean in the plantations,” he complained, highlighting unfair practices that erode farmers’ earnings. He added that a ton of sugarcane currently fetches a meagre Shs140,000, a price farmers argue is insufficient to cover their production costs.

Budhugo also decried attempts by millers to manipulate output estimates. “We want a ton of sugarcane to produce 100 kilograms of sugar, which is the industry standard. But millers claimed it yields only 50 kilograms. We rejected that nonsense and agreed on at least 80 kilograms,” he asserted, underscoring the constant battle over fair compensation.

Furthermore, Budhugo criticized the Ministry of Trade for the prolonged delay in forming the Sugar Council, a body mandated by the Sugarcane (Amendment) Act, 2023. The council is crucial for mediating and regulating relations between farmers and millers, providing a much-needed oversight mechanism.

Responding to the criticism, Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa attributed the delay to the Ministry of Security, which is yet to complete the vetting process for the proposed council members. President Museveni has since issued a directive for the verification process to be completed by Monday next week, signaling an expedited resolution.

Despite his strong support for the factory takeover, President Museveni expressed reservations about sugarcane farming’s ability to significantly transform the lives of smallholder farmers with limited land. While Budhugo stated that an acre of land, with proper fertilization, could yield a net profit of Shs4 million annually, Museveni contended that this income is inadequate for meaningful livelihood improvement.

“Budhugo, you want my people to remain poor. Earning Shs4 million from an acre per year is not enough. A farmer can’t educate their children on that,” Museveni stated, urging farmers to adopt a diversified farming model. He championed what he termed “Ekibalo,” an integrated approach that combines sugarcane cultivation with livestock and poultry farming, aimed at maximizing land use and income potential.

To further support sugarcane growers and enhance their productivity, the President also pledged to provide fertilizers, emphasizing the importance of better farming practices for improved crop yields. This multi-pronged approach underscores the government’s commitment to not only addressing immediate challenges but also fostering long-term economic resilience for Busoga’s farming communities.