Overview of the sector
The mining sector is Uganda is still in a stage of infancy accounting for less than 0.9% of GDP. The sector is dominated by small-scale mining activities which are not able to produce viable quantities. The overall objective of the government is to build capacity in the mining sector through the Mineral Sector Development Technical Assistance Project (MSDTA) The government has put in place a framework to enable it seek private and foreign investors in the mining sector.
Regulatory framework
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD)
MEMD is responsible for the sector, dealing specifically with mineral policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. The Mission of the ministry is to develop, strategically manage and safeguard the rational and sustainable utilization of mineral resources for economic and social development of Uganda.
The mineral policy
The mineral policy constitutes a formal framework through which the mineral sector will develop within the national strategy for poverty eradication and development.
The Mineral Policy Objectives are:
1. To stimulate mining sector development by promoting private sector participation.
2. To ensure that mineral wealth supports national economic and social Development.
3. To regularise and improve artisanal and small scale mining.
4. To minimise and mitigate the adverse social and environmental impacts of mineral exploitation.
5. To remove restrictive practices on women participation in the mineral sector and protect children against mining hazards.
6. To develop and strengthen local capacity for mineral development.
7. To add value to mineral ores and increase mineral trade.
Mining Act
The Mining Act 2003 covers mineral ownership and rights, administration, licensing and leases, inspections, mineral trade and dealing, surface rights, cancellation and suspension of mineral rights, registration and records, environmental protections and financial and other provisions.
Mining regulations
The mining regulations were made on 2nd day of September, 2004 in exercise of the powers conferred upon the Minister by section 121 of the Mining Act, 2003.
Mining regulations help in applying for mining and related licenses in Uganda as well as for leases official certificates of work progress or approval.
Information available for investors in the mining sector
There are attractive incentives to investors because of growing appreciation of the minerals wealth of the country, settled business climate that has developed over the last 20 years, have led to increasing awareness by the international mining community of the actual and potential commercial development of gold, vermiculite, copper, cobalt, various specialty metals, and other minerals.
Mineral resources
Uganda is endowed with over 50 different types of minerals and it ranks among the countries in Africa with the biggest number of minerals although the potential for viable exploitation has not yet been established for most of the minerals. The country’s list of minerals resources include; Copper, Cobalt, Tin, Phosphates, Vermiculite, Diamond, Gold, Petroleum, Chronite, Magnetite, Uranium, Iron ore among others.
The mining sector in Uganda has been summarised to include the following
Investment incentives in mining sector in Uganda
Key Investors in the mining sector