Sugar output in Uganda has tripled from just under 200,000 metric tonnes in 2006 to 600,000 tonnes in 2022, according to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Geraldine Ssali. Consequently, Uganda is the only net exporter of sugar in the East African Community, Ssali noted. "The sector contributes revenue to the Government in the form of taxes amounting to over UGX300 billion (US$78.4 million) annually from the operational 14 sugar mills. In addition, the sector employs over 60,000 people directly in the factories, 200,000 cane outgrowers and much more indirectly," said Ssali. According to the Economic Policy Research Centre at Makerere University, Uganda has made significant strides in sugarcane production and processing since the sub-sector's liberalisation. With the rapid expansion of the sub-sector, the Government, through the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives and Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries, formulated the 2010 National Sugar Policy and the 2019 Sugar Act, respectively; to create an enabling policy and regulatory framework to facilitate the long-term inclusive and sustainable development of the sub-sector.
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