Weighbridge Saga Threatens Sugar Supply Chain As Minister Balaam Steps In

By Our Reporter

Masindi District has in recent weeks been gripped by heightened tension following the dramatic dismantling of sugarcane outgrowers’ weighbridges, a development that sparked outrage among farmers and reignited a long-simmering “sugar war” between outgrowers and millers.

However, a ray of hope has emerged following the intervention of Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, who has formally moved to push for an urgent and structured resolution to the escalating sugar sector dispute in Masindi.

The conflict centres on the operationalisation of independent weighbridges used by sugarcane outgrowers to measure cane before delivery to factories, particularly Kinyara Sugar Works. Farmers argue that weighbridges are critical trade tools that protect them from under-weighing, arbitrary deductions and potential exploitation by millers.

In line with an earlier Presidential directive issued in Mayuge, government guidance had supported the operationalisation of weighbridges to promote transparency, accountability and fairness across the sugar value chain.

Tensions escalated after a directive reportedly issued through the Ministry of Internal Affairs resulted in the police-supervised dismantling of the Masindi outgrowers’ weighbridge. The move shocked farmers, who described it as abrupt, unclear and seemingly inconsistent with prior government guidance.

Outgrowers allege the decision lacked transparency and failed to address the real bottlenecks affecting both growers and manufacturers. The development sparked anxiety across Masindi District, with cooperative members warning of potential financial losses and disruption of cane supply chains.

The controversy follows recent sector directives issued by Kahinda Otafiire regarding compliance and order within the industry. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has maintained that weighbridges remain legitimate commercial infrastructure that enhances accountability, reduces disputes and promotes equitable transactions between farmers and millers.

Despite these positions, tensions on the ground remained high, with farmers accusing authorities of acting contrary to established policy and earlier Presidential guidance.

As frustrations grew, members of the Bunyoro Sugarcane Outgrowers Cooperative Union repeatedly sought intervention from Minister Balaam at his residence in Masindi Town, appealing to him both as a government representative and a native of the region. After listening to their concerns, Balaam took formal action.

In a letter dated February 13, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and seen by this publication, he expressed support for convening an emergency stakeholders’ meeting aimed at de-escalating the crisis. He noted that dismantling the weighbridge appeared to contradict earlier Presidential guidance and emphasized that weighbridges remain essential instruments for accountability, fair measurement and structured trade.

“Masindi is currently at a boiling point,” Balaam warned, stressing the urgency of harmonising government positions and restoring calm through dialogue.

At the same time, the minister issued a stern warning against individuals allegedly stealing sugarcane belonging to Kinyara Sugar Works and attempting to channel it through weighbridges. He cautioned that anyone found engaging in cane theft should face firm legal consequences, proposing penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, and emphasized that protecting investors is equally important as safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods.

“We must protect our investors. Stealing cane, if it is happening, undermines the entire value chain and threatens jobs and stability in the region,” he said, signalling a balanced approach that defends farmers’ right to fair weighing while condemning criminal activity within the sector.

However, Bunyoro Sugarcane Outgrowers Cooperative Chairman Kazimbiraine Mohamudh dismissed allegations that stolen cane could be passing through the weighbridge, describing the claims as unfounded and misleading. He pointed to clearly displayed operational guidelines at the facility prohibiting the purchase of suspected stolen cane, cane linked to questionable arrangements, and deliveries made through motorcycles or tricycles, while requiring verification of the cane’s origin directly from farmers.

According to the chairman, the cooperative works strictly with registered members and does not weigh cane from unknown sources. “We know our farmers and their gardens. We only handle cane from our members,” he said, insisting that operations remain transparent and verifiable.

Balaam’s intervention is widely viewed as an effort to cool tensions and prevent further polarisation between outgrowers and manufacturers. By bringing together relevant ministries, district leaders and sector stakeholders, the minister is seeking a policy-consistent solution that protects farmers’ incomes, safeguards investors and restores confidence within Bunyoro’s sugar economy.

For thousands of sugarcane farmers whose livelihoods depend on fair weighing systems, the intervention has injected renewed optimism that the dispute can be resolved through dialogue rather than confrontation.