Sugarcane Boom in Kamuli Fuels Hunger Crisis, Locals Report

The kitchens in many homes in Wankole Sub-county, Kamuli District, are unusually quiet. With vast tracts of land now dedicated to sugarcane cultivation, families who once grew their own food are struggling to find enough to eat, leading to midday meals of posho or foraging for fruits to stave off hunger. Many children are starting their day not with breakfast, but with a desperate search for sustenance.

Local leaders and residents are pointing to the rapid expansion of sugarcane farming as the primary driver of this growing food insecurity. They report that land once used for growing essential food crops has been entirely converted into sugarcane fields. This shift has left many households with insufficient land to feed their families, exacerbating poverty and vulnerability.

“There is no longer enough land for growing food because much of it has been turned into sugarcane plantations,” stated Ms. Grace Kasiira, the village chairperson of Butimbito II A. She further noted that declining soil fertility and changes in weather patterns, including prolonged dry spells linked to deforestation for sugarcane, have worsened crop yields.

Residents like Agnes Kasusa describe renting out their land for sugarcane for up to six years, forcing them to purchase all their food during that period. This dependency on purchased food, coupled with limited income, makes families vulnerable to price fluctuations and shortages.

While the sugarcane industry offers economic opportunities, concerns are mounting over its impact on food security and land use across the Busoga region, Uganda’s sugar belt. Authorities are promoting integrated farming systems and climate-smart agriculture to encourage a balance between cash crops and food production. However, challenges remain, including a lack of strong bylaws and enforcement mechanisms to regulate land use effectively.

Despite these concerns, some sugarcane farmers, like David Christopher Mombwe, chairperson of the Busoga Sugarcane Growers Association, argue that blaming sugarcane alone for food shortages is inaccurate. He advocates for a balanced approach, encouraging intercropping and urging sugar millers to provide organic fertilizers to maintain soil health.

As more land is dedicated to sugarcane, many households are becoming increasingly reliant on food markets. The debate in the region is shifting from sugarcane profitability to the sustainability of feeding its population while maintaining its status as Uganda’s sugar hub. The current hunger crisis in Kamuli may foreshadow wider challenges if a balance between cash crop and food farming is not achieved.

This story was originally reported by the Daily Monitor (Uganda).