Weighbridge Controversy Sparks Legal & Economic Tensions In Masindi, Sugarcane Farmers Run To Court!

By Swift Reporter

Sugarcane farmers in Masindi District have intensified their push for what they describe as fairness and transparency in the sugar value chain, seeking court intervention to compel the reinstatement of roadside weighbridges and secure compensation for financial losses suffered during their suspension.

The dispute, which has steadily gained momentum, centers on the farmers’ insistence that accessible weighbridges are critical to protecting them from alleged under-weighing and ensuring accurate measurement of their produce before delivery to factories.

The matter came to a head following a stakeholders meeting chaired by Masindi Resident District Commissioner Darius Nandinda. While the meeting was intended to chart a way forward after a directive by the State Minister for Cooperatives, Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, farmers left dissatisfied, arguing that implementation of the minister’s guidance was being delayed.

In Kampala last week, stakeholders reportedly agreed that the weighbridges would be reinstated under clear conditions. The RDC was tasked with convening local actors to identify suitable locations to guarantee security and oversight, and it was resolved that weighbridges would strictly handle weighing, with payments processed separately at designated offices.

Farmers say their expectation was a quick operationalization of that resolution. Instead, they claim discussions shifted back to broader regulatory and operational concerns, leaving the core issue unresolved.

For many growers, the stakes are economic survival. They argue that without nearby weighbridges, they incur higher transport costs and have limited ability to verify the weight of their cane before it reaches millers, weakening their negotiating position.

The situation has taken another turn after the RDC summoned two major millers, Kinyara Sugar Limited and Victoria Sugar, for further talks on operational modalities. Farmer representatives have expressed concern about not being directly included in that engagement, maintaining that any decisions affecting the weighing process must involve producers themselves.

By turning to court, the farmers are seeking not only reinstatement of the weighbridges but also legal clarity on the enforcement of ministerial directives and the balance of authority between district leadership and sector regulators.

As legal proceedings begin and dialogue continues at the district level, the outcome could shape how agricultural supply chains are regulated in Masindi and beyond, particularly on issues of transparency, farmer protection, and equitable trade practices within Uganda’s sugar industry.