A number of exploration and mining concessions were granted renewed or expired. By the end of 2010, there were 611 mining licenses issued to companies.
Below are examples of some of the big companies holding mining licenses:
• Hima Cement Ltd for mining limestone and purchasing of pozzolanic materials in Kasese and Kabarole districts. The company holds mineral dealers license in base metals as well as in non-metallic (industrial/ building) minerals, with UGX 803,858,662/-earned as NTR in 2009.
• Tororo Cement Ltd for mining and exploration of limestone and pozzolanic materials in Tororo, Moroto, Mbale and Kapchorwa districts, with UGX 803,213,035/- earned as NTR in 2009.
• Kasese Cobalt Company Ltd continued with production of cobalt and the running of a sub-lease for limestone quarrying at Hima, with UGX 428,373,155/- earned as NTR in 2009.
• African Mineral Fields Limited for exploration for gold, platinum group of metals (PGM), and base metals in Ntungamo, Mukono, Kamwenge, Bushenyi, and Mbarara districts.
• Vangold Resources Limited, acquired seven non producing artisan beryllium mines and secured nine joint ventures with exploration licenses holders including Rwenzori Copper and Nickel, Beryllium Exploration Limited, Dome Mines Limited adjacent to the Kilembe copper – Cobalt.
• AUC Mining Company which is developing a gold mine at Kamalenge in Mubende District.
• In early 2006, IBI Corporation, (“IBI” TSX-V) made a decision to change its strategy from being a single industrial minerals company successfully mining and globally marketing vermiculite, to become a high-value minerals exploration and development company, focused on Uganda. Subsequently, IBI sold its Namekara Uganda Vermiculite Mine to mining giant Rio Tinto for US $5 million in March 2007, with final closing in March of 2008. The Company’s strategic mission in Uganda is now twofold: exploration for and development of potential uranium resources and investing in promising gold opportunities.