MASINDI — Four weighbridges previously operating in Bunyoro’s sugarcane-growing districts have been handed back to Victoria Sugar and relocated to the company’s factory in Luwero District, in a move leaders and farmers believe will help curb the persistent problem of sugarcane theft.
The weighbridges were officially handed over on Friday by Masindi District Police Commander Pensive Tukasiima following directives from Uganda Police Headquarters ordering that they be returned to their rightful owner.
The development follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed recently in Kampala between Kinyara Sugar Limited and Victoria Sugar under the guidance of Balaam Barugahara.
Under the agreement, Victoria Sugar will continue purchasing sugarcane from farmers who are not contracted to Kinyara Sugar, while Kinyara will retain exclusive relationships with its contracted outgrowers.
The two companies also agreed to discontinue the use of roadside weighbridges, which had become a source of controversy within the sugar industry.
For years, farmers, local leaders and millers have argued that some roadside weighbridges gradually evolved into collection points for illegally harvested sugarcane. Reports of mature cane being harvested at night and sold through informal trading channels became increasingly common across the Bunyoro sub-region.
Local authorities in Masindi, Kikuube and Hoima repeatedly raised concerns about organized groups targeting sugarcane plantations, leaving farmers with significant losses after months of investment.
Francis Tumwine, a community mobilizer in Masindi District, welcomed the relocation of the weighbridges, saying it represents an important step towards restoring order in the sector.
“The weighbridges have been returned to their rightful owner, but stakeholders have agreed that they should no longer be used in a manner that facilitates illegal cane trade and theft,” Tumwine said.
“What farmers and leaders want is an organized sugar industry where genuine growers benefit from their sweat and criminals have no market for stolen cane. The agreement between Kinyara and Victoria Sugar is a positive step in that direction.”
Tumwine said transferring the weighbridges to Victoria Sugar’s factory in Luwero effectively closes a contentious chapter that had strained relations among farmers, millers and local leaders.
Farmers interviewed welcomed the changes, saying cane theft has remained one of the biggest threats to sugarcane production in the region.
Peter Byaruhanga said many farmers had suffered losses after investing heavily in crops that were later stolen before harvest.
“There were farmers who would spend more than a year nurturing their cane only to find sections of their gardens harvested by thieves. Anything that helps stop that problem is good for us,” he said.
Another farmer, Sarah Nakato, said the agreement between the two sugar companies provides a clearer framework for marketing sugarcane.
“Now farmers know the system. If you are contracted by Kinyara, your cane goes to Kinyara. If you are not contracted, Victoria Sugar can buy your cane. That removes a lot of confusion,” she said.
Leaders in the region believe the arrangement will reduce disputes over cane ownership, improve coordination between millers and strengthen protections for farmers who invest substantial resources in sugarcane cultivation.
The return of the weighbridges comes at a time when Bunyoro’s growing sugar industry is seeking to balance investor interests with farmer welfare while eliminating criminal activities that have undermined confidence in the sector.
For growers across Masindi, Kikuube and Hoima districts, the decision is being viewed as a significant step toward creating a more structured and accountable sugar market where legitimate farmers are protected and opportunities for cane theft are significantly reduced.