JUDICIARY Latest Features

Today, the Registrar Special Duties, HW Harriet Ssali Nalukwago, officiated at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly constituted Uganda Sugar Industry Stakeholder Council.

The Council, established under the Sugar (Amendment) Act, 2020, is mandated to self-regulate the sugar industry, address sectoral challenges, and promote transparency and accountability. It is composed of nine members representing key stakeholders: the Government (through the Ministries of Trade, Finance, and Agriculture), millers, and farmers.

The nine-member Council is headed by Mr. Rajbir Singh Rai, Director of Kinyara Sugar Works, who will serve as its Chairperson. His leadership is expected to steer the body towards fostering collaboration among industry actors and ensuring that the sector operates within a fair and transparent framework.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, who was the guest of honour at the Ceremony congratulated the Council members upon their appointment, commending them for accepting to serve at a time when the sugar industry requires strong oversight and responsive leadership. He stressed that the Council, which was set up under the Sugar (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 6), has a lot of work ahead of it. Paramount among its tasks is the responsibility of bringing together the various actors in the sector to improve sugar production in the country, enhance competitiveness, and ensure harmony among farmers, millers, and government.

Uganda currently produces approximately 700,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually. Of this, about 450,000metric tonnes are consumed locally, while the remaining 250,000 metric tonnes are exported to regional and international markets. This makes sugar one of Uganda's most strategic agro-industrial commodities, both for domestic food security and foreign exchange earnings.

In her remarks, the Registrar Special Duties emphasized that the establishment of the Council demonstrates the Country's commitment to strengthening governance within the Sugar sector. She urged the members to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and service to both the industry and the communities that depend on it.

The newly sworn-in members pledged to discharge their duties with diligence and to advance the Council's objectives of inclusivity, fairness, and sustainability in Uganda's sugar industry.