Committee on trade meets sugar Manufacturers on Sugar Bill!

Members of the Uganda Sugar Manufacturers Association are appearing before the Committee on Trade to present their proposals on the Sugar Amendment Bill, 2023.

Led by their Chairperson, Jim Mwine Kabeho, the sugar manufacturers are proposing that all sugar licences that were issued by the Ministry of Trade following the passing of the Sugar Act, 2020 should be revoked until a council is institute to determine the location of the mills.

Sugar Manufacturers Association Leaders

The sugar industry is regulated under the Sugar Act, 2020 which established the Sugar Board as the body responsible for implementing the Act. However, because of the government Policy on Rationalisation which restricts the establishment of statutory bodies, the Sugar Board has never been established by government.

To address this challenge, the Bill seeks to amend the Sugar Act 2020 to establish the Sugar Industry Stakeholder Council which would comprise representatives of stakeholders in the sugar industry and be funded by a sugar levy charged on millers. The government shall only provide regulatory oversight over the activities of the council through a few

representatives on the council and technical officers at the secretariat of the Council.