Masindi district council okays directives to relocate weighbridges

Masindi district council has responded to the directives by the government and approved recommendations for the relocation of the weighbridges, in line with the guidance of the State Minister for Trade.

The recommendations were contained in a motion tabled by the district secretary for production, works, natural resources, trade and local economic development, Geoffrey Kiiza Bigabwa during an extraordinary council sitting held on Tuesday, March 4.

The siting came after the Ministry of Trade asked the council to make recommendations on the relocation of the weighbridges after its closure over what was termed as an effort to combat sugarcane theft in Masindi district.

Last month, the Ministry of Trade directed the removal of all private weighbridges within Masindi Municipality premises, a directive which left at least four weighbridges removed including those located in Murro, Miriya, Rukondwa and Murro 2.

The intention is to control illegal sugarcane marketing which led farmers into losses and a decline in government local tax.

However, in the motion tabled by Bigabwa, the district executive committee came up with 13 recommendations.

In the recommendations, all sugarcane leaving the district should be weighed before delivery, all companies or individuals involved in sugarcane business should have records at the weighbridges, and all vehicles transporting canes should be clearly labelled with the company’s name.

Other recommendations provide that all weighbridges should be located along major routes where the sugarcane is transported to, and uncontracted farmers’ sugarcane should be transported with a letter from the local council chairperson showing where it has been harvested.

Another recommendation was that all sugarcane from farmers should be sold directly to the companies buying canes without involving middlemen.

In order to ensure farmers benefit from the sugarcane business, the councillors agreed to back up the recommendations.

After a short deliberation on the matter, one of the councillors, Timothy Twesige, called for adoption of the recommendations which were unanimously seconded by the council.

Council Speaker Moses Kiirya who presided over the siting, stated that the council minutes will be ready soon and sent to the district chairperson for onward submission to the Ministry of Trade.

In an interview after the council, John Karuhanga, the chairperson of the Southern Sugarcane Zone commended the councillors for the recommendations, describing it as pro-people.

He noted that this will help them benefit more from their sugarcane business.

Masindi district LC5 chairperson Cosmas Byaruhanga says the resolutions will streamline the sugar cane industries in the district.

Bujenje County Member of Parliament, Kiiza Kenneth Nyendwooha appreciated the Masindi district council for the resolutions.

He noted that the resolutions will promote harmony in the sugar cane business by ensuring that everyone has a right to the market.