Balaam Moves to Defuse Masindi Sugar Crisis After Police Dismantle Outgrowers’ Weighbridge

Sugarcane outgrowers in Masindi District are up in arms after police dismantled an independent weighbridge operated by farmers, a move that has reignited the long-running dispute between growers and millers in the Bunyoro sugar belt.

The weighbridge, which outgrowers had used to verify cane tonnage before delivery to factories, particularly Kinyara Sugar Works, was pulled down following a directive reportedly issued through the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The dismantling has, however, drawn the intervention of Mr Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, who has formally called for an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the crisis.

The dispute centres on the role of independent weighbridges in the sugarcane trade. Outgrowers have long maintained that the weighbridges are essential trade instruments that protect them from under-weighing and arbitrary deductions by millers.

Earlier Presidential guidance issued in Mayuge had supported the operationalisation of weighbridges to promote transparency and fairness across the sugar value chain. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has also maintained that weighbridges are legitimate commercial infrastructure that enhances accountability and reduces disputes between farmers and millers.

The recent directive, which followed sector instructions from Mr Kahinda Otafiire on compliance and order within the industry, caught outgrowers off guard. Cooperative members described the police-supervised operation as abrupt, unclear, and inconsistent with prior government positions.

Farmers speak out

Members of the Bunyoro Sugarcane Outgrowers Cooperative Union warned that the removal of the weighbridge would result in financial losses and disrupt cane supply chains across the district.

The outgrowers said the decision lacked transparency and failed to address the real bottlenecks affecting both growers and manufacturers. The development triggered widespread anxiety in Masindi, with farmers accusing authorities of acting contrary to established policy and earlier Presidential guidance.

As frustrations mounted, cooperative members made repeated visits to Minister Balaam’s residence in Masindi Town, appealing to him both as a government representative and a native of the region.

Balaam’s intervention

In a letter dated February 13, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and seen by this publication, Mr Balaam expressed support for convening an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to de-escalate the situation.

He noted that dismantling the weighbridge appeared to contradict earlier Presidential guidance and emphasised that weighbridges remain essential instruments for accountability, fair measurement, and structured trade.

“Masindi is currently at a boiling point,” Mr 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 said anyone found engaging in cane theft should face firm legal consequences, proposing penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment.

“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.

Cooperative dismisses theft claims

Mr Kazimbiraine Mohamudh, the chairperson of the Bunyoro Sugarcane Outgrowers Cooperative, dismissed the cane theft allegations as unfounded and misleading.

He pointed to operational guidelines clearly displayed at the weighbridge facility, which prohibit the purchase of suspected stolen cane, cane linked to questionable arrangements, and deliveries made through motorcycles or tricycles. The guidelines also require verification of the cane’s origin directly from farmers.

“We know our farmers and their gardens. We only handle cane from our members,” Mr Kazimbiraine said, insisting that the cooperative’s operations are transparent and verifiable.

What next?

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

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