By Swift Reporter
Kampala — Parliament has today Wednesday decisively moved to restore roadside weighbridges used by sugarcane farmers, in a dramatic reversal of Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja’s earlier directive that had ordered their removal.
During Wednesday’s plenary sitting, legislators adopted a report arising from a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened on Tuesday at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, effectively giving the green light for the immediate reinstatement of the weighbridges. The meeting had been chaired by state Trade Minister David Bahati, alongside State Minister for Lands Persis Namuganza and State Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite, acting on instructions of Parliament after the matter was raised as one of national importance.
The House’s resolution now is the exact opposite of that of the Prime Minister’s previous position, which farmers and several lawmakers had sharply criticized as punitive and skewed in favor of powerful sugar cartels led by Rai, the proprietor of Kinyara sugar ltd, who laoa doubles as Chairman Sugar council.
Debate in the chamber was emotionally charged, with several MPs arguing that the removal of weighbridges had exposed outgrowers to exploitation by millers, who allegedly manipulate weighing systems to their advantage. Legislators insisted that the devices are a critical safeguard for smallholder farmers, ensuring transparency and fairness in cane transactions.
Notably, groups of sugarcane farmers filled the public gallery during the session, attentively following proceedings that directly affect their livelihoods. Their presence underscored the gravity of the matter, with some MPs acknowledging the “silent suffering” the farmers have endured since the enforcement of the Prime Minister and Gen Kahinda Otafiire’s directives.
A section of legislators went further to question the motive behind Nabbanja’s earlier decision, echoing concerns widely circulating among farmers that the directive may have been influenced by entrenched interests within the sugar industry. Kakira Sugar Works and Kinyara Sugar Limited were repeatedly cited during discussions as dominant players accused of benefiting from the absence of independent weighbridges.
MPs described the sugar sector as being under the grip of “wealthy cartels” capable of wielding enormous financial influence to shape policy in their favor, often at the expense of vulnerable rural farmers.
By adopting the report, Parliament has now directed the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure the immediate restoration of the weighbridges, signaling a policy shift aimed at rebalancing power between millers and outgrowers.
The development marks a significant victory for sugarcane farmers, who have for months protested what they termed as systemic exploitation and regulatory neglect. It also sets the stage for a potential institutional standoff, as the Executive arm is now expected to align with Parliament’s directive or offer justification for any deviation.
As implementation begins, attention will now turn to how quickly government agencies can operationalize the reinstatement and whether further reforms will be introduced to regulate the sugar value chain more equitably
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