Africa-Press – Uganda. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, has inaugurated the first-ever Uganda Sugar Industry Stakeholders’ Council, marking a major step toward improved governance, innovation, and inclusiveness in one of the country’s key agro-industrial sectors.
Constituted under the Sugar (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Council brings together players across the value chain — from millers and out-growers to policymakers and regulators — to drive coordinated growth and equitable participation in the industry.
At the inauguration, Mwebesa outlined the Council’s core responsibilities, including licensing oversight, developing a Sugar Industry Master Plan, ensuring fair pricing and revenue sharing between millers and farmers, market monitoring, dispute resolution, and promoting technological advancement.
He emphasized that the Council serves as a delegated authority representing both farmers and millers, calling on members to perform their duties “judiciously and diligently” in the interest of balanced sector growth.
“This Council represents a new chapter for Uganda’s sugar industry — one that demands accountability, fairness, and forward-looking leadership,” Mwebesa said, urging members to champion transparency and inclusivity throughout their two-year tenure.
The Minister also revealed that Cabinet has directed the Ministry to submit quarterly performance reports on the Council’s operations to ensure continuous policy alignment and sectoral accountability.
In a strong directive, Mwebesa tasked the Council with reviewing stalled projects, validating operational licenses, and addressing monopolistic practices that have historically hindered competitiveness in the industry.
With these remarks, the Minister officially declared the Uganda Sugar Industry Stakeholders’ Council inaugurated, describing it as a foundation for a more structured, transparent, and sustainable future for the sector.
“This is not just an administrative milestone,” he noted, “but a commitment to a reformed industry that works for every stakeholder — from the farmer to the factory.”
The Council’s establishment is widely seen as a turning point that could usher in long-term stability, innovation, and shared prosperity within Uganda’s sugar industry.
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