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By Andrew Irumba
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), through the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines, has intensified its nationwide mineral governance sensitization campaign with another major consultative workshop targeting stakeholders from Kassanda, Mubende, Hoima, Kiboga and Kyankwanzi districts.
The engagement, held on Tuesday in Kassanda District, focused on the proposed Mineral Markets and Buying Centre Regulations, which government says are central to formalizing Uganda’s mineral trade, improving transparency, attracting responsible investment and boosting national revenue collections.
The workshop brought together government agencies, mineral dealers and buyers, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) associations, mining companies, processors and refiners, development partners, civil society organizations, financial institutions and academia.
Speaking during the consultative meeting, Commissioner Mines Ms Agnes Alaba said government has already laid a strong legal and policy foundation to transform Uganda’s extractives sector through enactment of the Mining and Minerals Act 2022, the Mining and Minerals (Licensing) Regulations 2023, alongside adherence to international frameworks including the Sustainable Development Goals and Uganda Vision 2040.
Alaba, who represented the Permanent Secretary at MEMD, Eng. Irene P. Bateebe, emphasized that the mineral markets framework is intended to restore order, dignity and value within Uganda’s rapidly expanding mining industry.
“To achieve these objectives, we have enacted several policies and regulations. Today we gather to shape the Mineral Markets Regulations that will bring order, value and dignity to every gram of gold, tin and gemstone produced in Uganda. It is our collective responsibility to ensure these resources are harnessed and support sustainable economic growth and development,” Alaba stated.
She further explained that Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV firmly position mineral development as a strategic pillar for socio-economic transformation, particularly through value addition, industrialization and infrastructure development.
“By formalizing mineral markets, we are not just building a trading platform, we are creating opportunities for value addition, job creation and community development. These markets will ensure that Uganda’s mineral wealth directly benefits its people, while also attracting responsible investment and enhancing compliance with international standards,” she added.
According to Alaba, the proposed mineral market platforms will facilitate structured trade in gold, tin and gemstones, provide technical services closer to mining communities and strengthen capacity building among artisanal miners.
She said the establishment of mineral markets is expected to create organized trading hubs capable of protecting miners, boosting investor confidence, improving mineral value chains and enhancing transparency and accountability within the sector.
“These initiatives aim to unlock mineral wealth, formalize artisanal and small-scale mining and boost economic growth and employment by connecting miners to the formal market,” Alaba noted.
Assistant Commissioner Geoscience Ms Grace L. Nassuna warned that Uganda’s informal mineral trading ecosystem, particularly hotel-based gold transactions, continues exposing the country to fake gold scams, money laundering, illicit mineral exports and investor fraud.
“The establishment of mineral markets has the potential to transform Uganda’s mining sector into a vibrant, inclusive and globally competitive industry,” Nassuna said.
She observed that growing global demand for gold, tin and critical minerals presents Uganda with enormous economic opportunities if supported by traceability systems, certification mechanisms and value addition initiatives.
“With the rising demand for gold, tin and other critical metals, formalized markets can help countries like Uganda tap into this demand by encouraging traceability, certification and value addition. This aligns with the rising demand for sustainably and responsibly sourced minerals,” she added.
Kassanda Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mike Ssegawa welcomed the initiative, saying regulated mineral markets will help protect miners from exploitation and traders from fraud while safeguarding Uganda against illicit financial flows.
“Through transparency, fair trade, value addition and ethical practices, mineral markets will empower miners, attract investors and drive sustainable economic growth. This transformation requires collaboration from all of us — miners, traders, policymakers and stakeholders alike,” Ssegawa said.
He added that the reforms would promote fair pricing, transparency and security within the mining sector, thereby reducing fraud risks and improving investor confidence.
The Kassanda engagement forms part of MEMD’s broader nationwide sensitization campaign aimed at operationalizing mineral market regulations across Uganda’s key mining corridors.
In recent months, the Ministry has conducted similar stakeholder engagements in Busia targeting gold traders and cross-border mineral dealers operating along the Uganda-Kenya frontier, Ntungamo where discussions focused on formalization of tin and wolfram trade, and at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala where policymakers, investors and industry players convened to deliberate on mineral governance, investment opportunities and value addition.
The Ministry says the ongoing consultations are critical in building consensus around Uganda’s mineral sector reforms as government moves to sanitize the industry, curb illegal mineral trade and maximize benefits from the country’s vast mineral wealth.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/memd-intensifies-mineral-markets-regulation-campaign-with-kassanda-regional-sensitization-workshop/
