By
Emmanuel Okello
Four men suspected of stealing sugarcane have been charged and remanded to Masindi Government Prison. The suspects have been identified as Franco Muzungu, 43, a businessman in Masindi Town; Julius Byaruhanga, 36, a boda boda rider and resident of Bikonzi Sub-county; Twaha Wamani, 41, a driver and resident of Masindi Town; and Julius Tindyebwa, 48, also a resident of Masindi.
The case, presided over by Masindi Grade One Magistrate Fortunate Nyapir, heard that the suspects were apprehended on June 13, 2025, in Bubanda Village, Bwijanga Sub-county, Masindi District, while allegedly attempting to steal sugarcane from a plantation belonging to a farmer contracted by Kinyara Sugar Limited.
According to court records, the suspects were caught after sugarcane out-growers contracted by Kinyara Sugar Limited alerted Masindi Police that unknown individuals were illegally loading harvested sugarcane onto a tipper truck, registration number UBR 621K, at night—without authorization. The plantation from which the sugarcane was being taken is registered with Kinyara Sugar Limited for harvest.
Police swiftly responded and arrested the suspects at the scene. The sugarcane, along with the vehicle used in the operation, was impounded. The suspects were taken to Masindi Central Police Station for detention. Appearing before court today, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Nyapir remanded them to Masindi Government Prison until June 20, 2025, when they will reappear in court.
Although the suspects applied for bail, the magistrate deferred the application to June 20, citing the need for thorough scrutiny of the proposed sureties. The sugarcane in question is valued at approximately five million Ugandan shillings. The arrests underscore the ongoing challenge of sugarcane theft in the region and the efforts by authorities to curb such crimes.
The stolen sugarcane is reportedly destined for sale on the black market, causing financial losses to both farmers and millers. Uganda Radio Network (URN) has reliably learned that rampant sugarcane thefts have significantly affected farmers in Masindi, many of whom suffer losses or are forced to incur extra costs by hiring guards to protect their mature cane fields from poachers and brokers. In 2023, Kinyara Sugar Limited told URN that the company loses up to 68 billion shillings annually due to sugarcane poaching.
