Business 5 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Police Return Weighbridges to Victoria Sugar, Aiming to Curb Cane Theft
Four sugarcane weighbridges confiscated from Bunyoro's growing areas have been returned to Victoria Sugar and moved to their Luwero factory, a move intended to combat rampant sugarcane theft. This follows an agreement between Victoria Sugar and Kinyara Sugar Limited. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/police-return-confiscated-sugarcane-weighbridges-to-victoria-sugar-5486196
The Uganda Police Force has returned four sugarcane weighbridges previously operating in Bunyoro’s sugarcane-growing regions to Victoria Sugar. The weighbridges have since been relocated to Victoria Sugar’s factory in Luwero District.
This action comes in the wake of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Kinyara Sugar Limited and Victoria Sugar, brokered with the assistance of Balaam Barugahara. Under this agreement, Victoria Sugar will continue to purchase cane from farmers not contracted to Kinyara, while Kinyara retains its existing outgrower relationships. Crucially, both companies have agreed to cease the use of roadside weighbridges, which have become a contentious issue within the industry.
For years, these roadside weighbridges were frequently cited as facilitators of illegal sugarcane trade and theft. Farmers across Masindi, Kikuube, and Hoima districts have reported significant losses due to organized syndicates stealing mature cane and quickly selling it through informal networks. Local leaders had repeatedly voiced concerns over these theft syndicates, which undermined the livelihoods of legitimate growers.
Community mobilizers like Francis Tumwine have welcomed the relocation, stating that the agreement promises a more organized sugar industry where genuine farmers benefit and thieves have no market for stolen produce. Farmers themselves, such as Peter Byaruhanga and Sarah Nakato, expressed relief, hoping this arrangement will curb cane theft and bring clarity to the purchasing system between the sugar companies.
Local leaders anticipate that this new arrangement will reduce disputes over cane ownership, enhance coordination between millers, and provide better security for farmers’ investments. The repositioning of the weighbridges to Victoria Sugar’s factory is seen as a significant step towards stabilizing the region’s sugar industry and restoring confidence among stakeholders.