HOIMA, UGANDA: Sugar cane farmers in Hoima and Kikuube Districts have agreed not to sell again their sugar cane to Hoima Sugar Limited until their issues are solved.
The agreement was reached at, on Monday afternoon in a meeting with the Kikuube District leaders at Kikuube District Headquarters.
Maxwell Isingoma, the chairperson of the Hoima Sugar cane growers Association says that sugar cane farmers have been so much affected by corruption tendencies of the contractors and workers of Hoima Sugar Limited plus delayed payment of the sugar cane sold to the company.
Hoima Sugar Limited has over 4000 farmers dispersed in 163 villages in Kikuube and Hoima Districts who are at the moment owing the company over five billion shillings.
“We are also demanding other services like Sugar cane cutting, transportation and supply of fertilizers for free as agreed in our contracts with the company which we have been forced to pay for”. Said Isingoma.
Isingoma added that as sugar cane farmers, they have previously conducted various meetings with the company leaders but all in vein.
“We are requesting for the review of the contract made with Hoima Sugar Limited since now it’s more beneficial to the company than the farmers and we want also to have a meeting with managing Director of Hoima Sugar Limited before sugar cane cutting resume.”
He later warned farmers from breaking the rules set by the association threatening that those who will disobey their rules shall be worked on accordingly.
Meanwhile, Amulani Tumusiime the Kikuube Resident Districts Commissioner asked farmers to use the right procedures when demanding their rights.
“Use the right procedures when showing your dissatisfactions, be organized because now Hoima Sugar Limited realized that you are disorganized and it is using that opportunity to exploit you.” Mr.Tumusiime said.
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