Sugarcane farmers revive umbrella organisation to strengthen bargaining power
MASINDI, November 18, 2025 — Sugarcane farmers in Uganda have revived their national umbrella organisation, the Uganda National Sugarcane Growers Association [UNASGO], which has been dormant for more than a decade.
According to Morish Ngabitho, one of the initiators of UNASGO, the organisation was established to unite sugarcane farmers across the country in order to strengthen their bargaining power when dealing with sugar millers.
“UNASGO was formed in 2006 by sugarcane outgrowers affiliated to sugar manufacturers — Kinyara Sugar Limited, Kakira Sugar Limited and Lugazi Sugar Limited, because we were facing many challenges from the millers, including unfairness, low payments, and the absence of a law regulating the sugar industry,” he said.
Ngabitho noted that the association achieved little because it did not operate for long, largely due to challenges such as lack of finances and limited commitment from members.
He added that for the association to thrive, members must support it financially in order to push back against issues that continue to marginalise sugarcane farmers.
“As we revive this association, we need to push for equal sharing of revenue with the millers because a lot of products are generated from our sugarcane. They generate electricity, molasses, bags, among others, but we are not benefiting from them,” he said, adding that sugarcane farmers invest heavily yet do not even earn 30 per cent of their investment.
He said that to achieve their goals, farmers need a strong national voice, resourceful leaders, adequate funding for the association, and amendments to their constitution.
This was said during a sugarcane farmers’ meeting held recently at Kolping Hotel, attended by farmers from various sugarcane-growing regions including Bunyoro, Tooro, Busoga, Buganda and Northern Uganda.
During the meeting, sugarcane farmers amended the constitution and approved 10 additional sugarcane farmers’ associations and cooperatives to become members of UNASGO.
Elections
Delegates attending the meeting also elected 17 representatives from all sugarcane growing regions, who in turn elected a five-member committee to spearhead the association’s activities.
The executive committee comprises Julius Katereve from Busoga region [Chairperson], Aston Kajara from Tooro region [Vice Chairperson], Nathan Mumolu from Busoga [General Secretary], David Byensi from Bunyoro region [Treasurer], and Mary Mujumura from Bunyoro [Secretary for Publicity].
Katereve pledged to champion farmers’ interests without compromise.
“I want to call upon sugarcane farmers from across the country to make use of the association’s leadership. I will be engaging with sugarcane farmers’ associations and cooperatives to gather their views,” he said.
Robert Atugonza, the Chairperson of Masindi Sugarcane Out-growers Association Limited [MASGAL] and the Tooro and Bunyoro representative to the Sugar Council, noted that only the association can help farmers have their challenges addressed. He urged farmers to avoid divisions based on tribe, politics or religion if they are to succeed.
“Sugarcane has more than seven by-products, but the price is determined only by sugar, which is unfair. It is only through this association that we can demand fairness. We need to be united and ready to demand what is due to us,” he said.
The farmers appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to capitalise their Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation [SACCO] with a grant of Shs 50 billion. They said the President promised this support in May this year while assenting to the Sugar Act.
They also urged the government to fulfil its promise of providing 40 tractors to support sugarcane farmers, and requested a meeting with the President to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the sugarcane industry, which has become a vital source of livelihood for many in the region.
Call for subsidised agricultural inputs
Farmers expressed concern over declining soil fertility and low yields per hectare, attributing the trend to the high cost of fertilisers and limited access to affordable financing.
“Most farmers cannot afford fertilisers, and those who manage to access loans often face interest rates exceeding 32 per cent. This results in reduced cane production, lower farmer incomes, decreased sugar output for millers, and diminished tax revenue for the government,” they argued.
Florence Asiimwe, the Woman Member of Parliament for Masindi district, called for unity among the association’s leadership and cautioned them to remain transparent, accountable, and well-informed about the sugar industry both in Uganda and internationally.
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