Sugarcane growers from Eastern Ugandas Busoga Sub-Region and other farmers in the country have been commended for waking up which has led to increased production of sugar along with other various crops and products that are now in surplus in the internal market.
The comment was made by President Yoweri Museveni while speaking to sugarcane farmers from Busoga Sub-Region at Bugembe Stadium in Jinja Municipality to allay their fears of having no market for the excess sugar they have produced on Wednesday.
I congratulate you for waking up. You are not the only ones; there are many Ugandans who have woken up and we now have a glut in sugar, maize, bananas; and your Banyankole now have too much milk. Now you are facing the problem of the market! he noted.
He assured them that the challenge is artificial because the said sugar is presently mainly used for taking tea only. He said government will soon broaden the utilization of the commodity in the making of other products.
He told the attentive gathering that he has already agreed with the Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, to start pilot projects in different districts of Busoga Sub-Region where small machines will be set up to make bottled sugar cane juice.
He added that other waste products from sugarcane will be used to make paper, sanitary pads and briquettes; noting that this will save the government US$ 100 million that is currently spent on importing paper.
Busoga Sub-Region, which has 40% of the total population of Ugandas Eastern Region, comprises 10 districts (Bugiri, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kaliro, Kamuli, Luuka, Mayuge, Namayingo and Namutumba).
The President further informed Busoga sugarcane growers that neighbouring Buikwe District sugar factory will start producing refined sugar that will be used for making soft drinks, biscuits, confectionaries and syrups. He noted that this will save the country over US$42 million used for importing industrial sugar.
“No more importing of that type of sugar. We are going to make a very big impact, he said.
Mr. Museveni said medium term efforts in setting up small industries to add value to locally produced items, such as maize, cassava, bananas and fruits, among others, will be rolled out to the whole country.
The President, who apologized to the gathering for coming late due to other engagements that included receiving a powerful delegation from China and the Vice President of South Africa, said Uganda alone cannot negotiate favorably with big states like China; so there is need for a bigger East African or African market.
He pledged to provide at least 2 tractors per District in Busoga Sub-Region. He urged farmers to look at the prospects of irrigation to improve their production output.
