NAMAYINGO – Over 5,000 residents in Namayingo District have signed a petition demanding the reauthorization of the CN Sugar Factory, which was halted by a ministerial decision. CN Sugar Limited had received a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the Minister for Trade, Francis Mwebesa, in November 2022, granting permission to establish the factory. However, the decision was reversed in June 2023.
Namayingo LCV Chairperson Ronald Sanya showed residents the petition, which was submitted to the office of First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and Minister Mwebesa. Sanya highlighted the factory’s importance to the region and contested the grounds for its closure.
Namayingo Woman MP Margaret Makoha, Bukooli South MP Abdul Adidwa, and Namayingo LCV Chairperson Ronald Sanya attended a meeting in Kifuyo Town to address the issue. They were joined by the Officer in Charge of Namayingo Police and other officers.
Minister Mwebesa’s decision to halt the project cited a lack of a nucleus estate of at least 500 hectares and an insufficient network of sugarcane out-growers. Residents argue that this decision has left hundreds jobless and halted economic progress in the area.
Sanya accused the minister of acting under the influence of existing sugarcane factories and coercing people to accept bribes to disrupt the new factory’s establishment. He claimed to have audio evidence to support these allegations. The petition detailed the progress and requirements for the sugarcane mill, countering the minister’s reasons for stopping the project.
“The ministry’s decision left over 800 workers jobless and caused financial losses to residents supplying construction materials for the CN sugar project,” Sanya said.
Residents, led by Sanya, vowed to suspend business with Bugiri Sugar Factory for obstructing CN Sugar’s development. They also threatened to prevent vehicles from other sugar factories from entering or passing through Namayingo District.
Mark Siminyu, a local resident, expressed frustration with corrupt leaders restricting the area’s improvement. “We will not allow corrupt leaders to restrict the improvement of our area. Consider the out-growers who’ve invested in developing sugarcane, who will purchase it as soon as the Indian traders leave? We are putting forward in this area a no-pass zone for other producers of sugar,” he stated.
The community also demanded the transfer of the District Police Commander (DPC). In response, DPC Joseph Kamukama defended his actions, stating he was doing his job.
At the end of the week, police, under Kamukama’s leadership, raided CN Sugar Factory, dispersing workers and management with tear gas and live ammunition. This action drew criticism from Treva Solomon Baleke, the Namayingo Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC).
Baleke condemned the alleged bribery meant to disrupt community development and criticized the ministry for not considering the factory’s progress. He called for an investigation into those hindering development and apologized for the mistreatment of workers and investors.
Baleke instructed the DPC not to deploy police at CN Sugar without his approval and to ensure the return of missing equipment, which disappeared after police disarmed the security guards.
