Uganda Sugarcane Boom Fails to Feed Families
Despite a tripling of sugarcane production, about a third of households in Uganda's Busoga region go hungry, with women shouldering the burden of feeding families as sugar mills sign contracts mainly with men
Uganda's sugarcane boom has not reduced hunger in the Busoga region, with about a third of households reporting going whole days without food. The region has seen significant growth in sugarcane production, with the amount of sugar cane planted tripling in size between 2000 and 2024.
Seven sugar mills operate in and around the Busoga region, with tens of thousands of families growing cane on their own land as outgrowers, selling it on contracts to the sugar mills. However, the contracts are mainly signed with men, leaving women to bear the responsibility of feeding families.
The government's decision to stop setting sugar prices and open the industry to the private sector in 1991 led to an influx of new investors in the region. However, this growth has not translated to food security for the local population. In fact, only about 20% of the available farmland in the Jinja and Buyende districts of Busoga is available to grow food crops, while up to 80% of farmland owned by families is used for sugarcane production.
The Busoga region has a population of around 4.3 million people, with most of them farming small, rain-fed plots. Despite the region's fertile soil and favorable climate, hunger is common, with about a third of households reporting going whole days without food in the 2024 census.
## Why it matters The situation in Busoga highlights the need for a more equitable approach to land use and contract signing. By mainly signing contracts with men, sugar mills are inadvertently leaving women to bear the responsibility of feeding families. This not only perpetuates hunger but also undermines the economic empowerment of women in the region. To address the issue of hunger in Busoga, it is essential to ensure that women are involved in decision-making processes and that contracts are signed in a way that benefits the entire household, not just the male members.
## What happens next To address the issue of hunger in Busoga, the sugar mills need to change their approach to contract signing. By signing contracts with both men and women, or with the household as a whole, sugar mills can help ensure that the benefits of sugarcane production are shared more equitably. Additionally, the government and other stakeholders need to work together to promote more diverse and sustainable land use practices, including the allocation of more land for food crops. Only then can the region hope to reduce hunger and improve food security for its population.
