Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has directed Members of Parliament on the committee of Natural Resources to probe the degradation of Bugoma forest after parts of it were allocated for sugarcane growing. Bunyoro kingdom in 2016 gave away 22 square miles of Bugoma Central …
Read More »Sugarcane farming: Why Busoga has remained the poorest
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Busoga has the biggest number of sugarcane mills and huge acreage of sugarcane, making use of its fertile soil around Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga coupled with good rains. However, the persistent poverty in Busoga continues to raise questions whether cane cultivation is benefiting farmers. …
Read More »Environmentalists appeal against Bugoma forest giveaway decision
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Environmentalists have filed a notice of appeal to contest a judgement dismissing an application challenging the giveaway of Bugoma central forest reserve for sugarcane growing. Last year, the Water and Environment Media Network, National Association of Professional Environmentalists-NAPE, and Africa Institute for Energy Governance sued the …
Read More »Uganda sugarcane traders demand compensation
150 sugarcane traders are demanding the government to compensate them over a ban by the Kenyan government to stop the importation of sugarcane from Uganda Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 100 Ugandan traders who were affected by a decision by the Kenyan government to stop the importation of sugarcane from …
Read More »NEMA, Hoima Sugar sued yet again over Bugoma forest giveaway
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Law Society and two Civil Society Organisations have filed another petition challenging the planned giveaway of part of Bugoma forest reserve in Kikuube district. Bugoma, a tropical forest gazzeted in 1932, comprises 410 square kilometres of a protected area, and a stretch of forest …
Read More »Sugarcane growers facing financial ruin due to buyer delays
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Out grower sugarcane farmers in Mpatta sub county of Mukono district are facing financial ruin due to delayed buying of sugarcane by Sugar Cooperation of Uganda Limited-SCOUL. About 100 out growers who received financial support from SCOUL to start growing sugarcane in 2016 have since …
Read More »Luuka voters want improvement in cash crop prices
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Voters in Luuka district want the government to negotiate stable cash crop prices which will boost the livelihoods of residents who entirely depend on subsistence and commercial agriculture for survival. Luuka is one of the largest sugarcane growing districts in Busoga sub-region with 80% of …
Read More »Kadaga directs Busoga CAOs to present budget for sugarcane access roads
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has directed the Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) in sugarcane growing districts in Busoga to come up with a budget for repair of roads. Kadaga expressed dismay at the state of the community roads in areas where sugar millers operate …
Read More »Persistent floods disrupt planting of sugarcane in Acholi
Amuru, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Over 10,000 Sugarcane growers in Amuru and Lamwo Districts have suspended planting of cane seedlings following persistent and excessive rains. The seedlings were supposed to be planted by the farmers between April through to October. However, since June to date, unprecedented rainfalls have caused overwhelming floods …
Read More »Families neighboring Bugoma forest living in fear of eviction
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 1,000 families in three sub-counties neighboring the contested Bugoma central forest reserve in Kikuube district are living in fear that their ancestral land could be grabbed by Hoima Sugar Limited if the company wins the battle to destroy Bugoma forest reserve for sugarcane …
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