President Museveni Reaffirms Scrapping of 5% Sugarcane “Trash Levy”

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated that his directive abolishing the 5% waste-management deduction imposed on sugarcane farmers by millers remains fully in force.

The President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, made the assurance on Sunday while addressing a large campaign rally in Katwe Village, Mayuge Town Council, Mayuge District.

Earlier this year, President Museveni instructed sugar millers to halt the controversial 5% “trash levy,” describing it as unfair to farmers. The directive, issued after consultations with farmers and millers to resolve challenges in the sector, took effect in August 2025.

At the rally, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flagbearer also assured farmers that weighbridges for sugarcane transport remain operational, urging them not to worry about their functionality.

President Museveni announced a new government initiative aimed at supporting large-scale farmers, including the creation of a national fund to procure fertilizers and the full construction of fishponds for communities that cannot afford them. He said the programme is intended to boost productivity and accelerate wealth creation, particularly in rural areas where families have land but lack capital to modernize agriculture.

“We are starting a fund to purchase fertilizers for those farming on a large scale. The government will also build ponds because you are not in position to do so yourselves; it’s an expensive venture,” he said.

The President emphasized that this support will reinforce the NRM’s long-running wealth-creation message. He reminded citizens that while development projects such as roads and electricity are public goods, household wealth is a personal responsibility.

He encouraged families to adopt the four-acre model, coffee, fruits, pasture for zero-grazing, food crops, and ventures like poultry, piggery or fish farming, citing successful farmers such as George Matongo of Ngoma, who produces more than 900 litres of milk daily despite living in a remote village.

President Museveni thanked God for enabling him, the First Lady and other NRM leaders to return to the area in peace. He recalled being in the same area 52 years ago during the liberation struggles in the forests of Kityerera.

“We lost many people in that war, Eng. Kasada, Nkonko, Ntwale—and others were executed in public like Karambuzi in Kabale, Karuhanga in Mbarara, Obona and Abejja in Gulu. All those were connected to this Kityerera; they were in a camp here,” he said.

He highlighted the NRM’s role in restoring peace in Uganda, noting that the country suffered numerous conflicts even after 1972 but now enjoys “total peace.”

The President cited ongoing and completed infrastructure works such as the Musita–Mayuge–Busia road and assured residents that remaining road projects, including the Iganga–Bwanda stretch, would be addressed.

He noted gaps in the distribution of education facilities in Mayuge District, explaining that although there are 143 government primary schools across 84 parishes, 21 parishes still lack a primary school. The district currently has 12 government secondary schools, serving nine sub-counties, with new seed schools, Mpungwe (completed), Weilasa (under construction), and Kityerera (planned), expected to close the gap.

On health, he said that out of 16 sub-counties, only two lack a Health Centre III or IV, and these will be upgraded.

President Museveni said job creation stems from wealth generated in agriculture and industrialisation, noting that factories have created 1.3 million jobs compared to 480,000 in the public sector. He urged supporters to confidently explain their support for the NRM based on its record of peace, development, wealth creation and job opportunities.

Maama Janet Museveni praised Uganda’s transformation, saying, “There was a time when Uganda had become a failed state, and God brought the President with the NRM. Now we stand here together as a testimony to what God has done.” She thanked the people of Mayuge for their commitment and encouraged them to vote for the NRM.

Hon. Aggrey Bagiire, the NRM Chairperson for Mayuge District, thanked the President for upgrading key roads such as Musita–Busia and for supporting the construction of the District Council Hall, Administration Block and other projects. He commended government programmes including PDM, Emyooga, NAADS and youth livelihood initiatives benefiting ghetto youth, boda boda riders and taxi operators.

He also appealed for the establishment of an industrial park for Busoga and a district hospital for Mayuge.