NAMAYINGO UGANDA: 02 October 2026- Tempers rose as furious sugarcane farmers in Namayingo District confronted members of the Sugar Council, demanding answers over the continued failure to grant CN Sugar Company an operating licence despite a clear presidential directive.
Gathered at the stalled factory site in Kifuyo Village, angry farmers accused the Sugar Council of corruption, alleging that officials make frequent visits under the guise of offering assistance while merely soliciting money from investors. Meanwhile, construction at the site has ground to a complete halt; machinery lies abandoned, and the grounds are steadily being reclaimed by bush.
The farmers accused the Sugar Council of defying an executive directive issued through Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, which instructed the body to expedite licensing for CN Sugar after three years of inactivity.
Prior to facing the public, council members held a four-hour closed-door meeting from which journalists were barred. Attendees included representatives from CN Sugar, Bugiri Sugar, and Kakira Sugar, alongside Namayingo District Chairperson Ronald Sanya, local council members, farmer leaders, the District Police Commander, the Resident District Commissioner, and a Ministry of Trade and Industry delegation led by David Kiiza. The session was chaired by Robert Atugonza, representing the Sugar Council chairperson.
When officials finally emerged, local farmers—including Deo Disiko and Idah Kigada—voiced the severe hardships caused by the delay, detailing how predatory middlemen buy their cane at throwaway prices, leading to devastating financial losses.
The LC1 Chairperson of Sango A Village, Kifuyo Parish, emotionally accused leaders of abandoning the NRM principle of “Prosperity for All,” noting that the community remains trapped in poverty while the factory sits idle. He emphasized that an operational factory would boost local revenue and significantly curb unemployment. Chairpersons from neighboring Mayuge District, including Bumairo Sub-County, echoed these concerns, revealing that local investors are forced to haul cane over long distances at minimal profit.
Namayingo District Chairperson Ronald Sanya issued a stern warning to the regulatory body, declaring that if the Sugar Council continues to withhold the licence, the district will pass a resolution banning sugarcane growing entirely. Sanya also cautioned competing sugar mills purchasing cane from Namayingo to stop actively undermining CN Sugar.
In response, Atugonza explained that the delay stems from land-related objections raised by rival sugar companies. He stated that the council’s visit was intended to evaluate operational requirements and prepare a legal report, urging farmers not to abandon cane production in the meantime.
Following the meeting, officials began assessing CN Sugar’s land holdings, starting with approximately 3,000 acres in Nawampogo Village, Mayuge District. Journalists were again ordered to leave shortly after the tour began, with officials citing the need to protect confidential details that could compromise their final report.
Despite the presidential directive calling for swift resolution, the CN Sugar project remains in limbo for a third consecutive year.
