By KT Reporter
Patrick Mudhungu, the Chairperson of the Mayuge Sugarcane Outgrowers Association, is the inaugural Chairperson of the newly formed Busoga Sugarcane Farmers Alliance (BSFA). BSFA unites nine sugarcane farmers’ associations, SACCOs, and cooperative societies under one umbrella for a common cause—advocating for farmers’ rights, fair trade practices, and price stability in the sugar industry.
Mudhungu will be deputized by Jimmy Bagoole, with Joel Byekwaso serving as General Secretary, Hamis Ndhote as Treasurer, and Mugogo Tucker as Publicity Secretary, assisted by Charles Kiiza. Other elected leaders include George Isabirye (Secretary in charge of Production), Faridah Nakato (Women’s Affairs), and Bernard Ibanda, who will represent Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).
The election was conducted by the farmers’ Electoral Commission, chaired by Adrian Mutindula, and attracted 29 voters, consisting of the chairpersons, vice chairpersons, and secretaries of the nine subscribing organizations. Mutindula noted the elections were peaceful and transparent, with delegates freely nominating and supporting candidates of their choice.
In his inaugural address, Mudhungu emphasized the need for unity among farmers, pointing out that disorganization and fragmentation had left sugarcane growers vulnerable to exploitation by millers. “We believe this alliance will put an end to the tendency by some big farmers to leverage freebies like fertilizers, improved seedlings, and scholarships from millers to suppress calls for fair treatment,” Mudhungu stated.
He expressed optimism that BSFA will now serve as a strong, collective voice to advocate for grassroots farmers’ needs, shielding them from economic injustices and ensuring they benefit from both corporate social responsibility initiatives and government programs.
Mudhungu also revealed that internal divisions had previously cost the region opportunities for government support. He committed to using the alliance’s three-year mandate to establish local advocacy structures that would engage Members of Parliament and other stakeholders in championing farmers’ economic rights. On the sidelines of the event, Erina Byekwaso, a sugarcane farmer from Busedde Sub-county in Jinja District, welcomed the formation of BSFA as a long-overdue relief. “This alliance will help counter misinformation and the schemes of detractors who seek to weaken our collective bargaining power,” Byekwaso said.
Another farmer, Elizabeth Suubi, emphasized the need for unity amid challenges such as unstable sugarcane prices. “Sugarcane farming is a lucrative trade, but we are constantly manipulated. We trust this new leadership will push back against intimidation from powerful millers and some state actors,” Suubi noted.
The formation of the Busoga Sugarcane Farmers Alliance marks a significant milestone in the region’s agricultural sector, raising hopes for price stability, improved farmer welfare, and transparent industry engagement in one of Uganda’s key sugar-producing regions-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
