Uganda officially inaugurated its first Sugar Industry Stakeholder Council as part of efforts to strengthen governance, enhance productivity, and regulate the nation’s sugar sector. The ceremony, held at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on Oct.23, followed the enactment of the Sugar (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2025, which establishes the council as a corporate body with legal authority to oversee the sector.
Cabinet approved the appointment of the council’s eleven members on October 6, 2025, with an official tenure of two years. Mwebesa said the Ministry will organize an induction for members within two weeks to align the council’s operations with national development goals and strengthen overall governance in the sector.
Officials stressed the need to prioritize stalled projects, validate licenses, and ensure competitive practices while preventing monopolistic tendencies. Bahati explained that regulations governing the council had already been laid before Parliament and that the Ministry will report to Cabinet every three months on the council’s progress in driving growth, protecting economic gains, and implementing the government’s broader industrialization agenda.
The inauguration marks a critical milestone in Uganda’s industrial development, positioning the sugar sector to expand production, enhance value addition, and strengthen both domestic and export markets.
