Shs 3.5bn maize debt sparks protest at PRO Industries in Luwero

More than 50 maize traders have pitched camp at PRO Industries Ltd in Luwero District, demanding payment of more than Shs3 billion owed to them for produce supplied to the company.

The traders, who converged at the company’s premises in Ndibuluungi, Butuntumula Sub-county, have parked their trucks at the factory entrance, effectively disrupting access to the facility.

The traders said they supplied more than 3,000 tonnes of maize but have waited for more than two months without payment. They accused the company of repeatedly delaying settlement of their bills despite their demands for payment.

The standoff has attracted police deployment at the factory as authorities seek to prevent the protest from escalating. However, the traders said they have no intention of leaving until the company pays them or returns their maize.

Some traders said they supplied hundreds of tonnes of maize on the understanding that they would be paid promptly, only to be left waiting for months.

One trader questioned why the company was continuing to receive produce when it was unable to pay suppliers.

“Which investigator is this who can’t pay suppliers? What did you come to do here? If they have no money, they should give us our maize,” the trader said.

Another supplier said the delayed payments had exposed traders to losses because the market price of maize has since increased.

“We supplied them at lower prices, but the prices have currently gone up. They should pay us at the current price or refund our maize,” the supplier said.

Another trader claimed that suppliers are owed about Shs3.5 billion for thousands of tonnes of maize delivered to the company.

“We supplied 4,000 tonnes of maize and they owe us Shs3.5 billion. They should pay us,” he said.

The traders said they have resorted to the protest after failing to secure a clear commitment from the company on when their payments would be made.

With their trucks blocking the factory entrance, the dispute has now disrupted operations at the facility and raised concerns among other stakeholders in the maize trade.

Efforts to obtain a comment from PRO Industries Ltd management were unsuccessful by press time.

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