Government Takes on Championing Local Mineral Processing For Value Addition And Economic Growth.

The cabinet committee on minerals and energy resources has called for more emphasis on value addition on mineral produces in Kigezi Sub Region to allow mineral development and economic growth.
President Museveni announced a ban on the exportation of unprocessed minerals and concentrates in 2011 in abide to champion Value addition of Uganda Minerals aiming at more revenue and job creation.
In April last year, Cabinet directed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to amend the Mining (Mining Licensing Regulations 2019) Act to incorporate a ban on exportation of unprocessed mineral ores and concentrates from Uganda in order to promote in-country mineral value addition and industrialization.
In an effort to implement the newly amended Mining and Mineral Bill 2022, the cabinet minister of Energy and Mineral development Ruth Nankabirwa, accompanied by Peter Aimat Lokeris, the Minister of State for Minerals, and a parliamentary committee on energy comprising members such as State Minister for Trade David Bahati and Wilfred Niwagaba, the Ndorwa East County MP, visited the Kigezi Sub Region.
Kigezi being dominated with Iron Ore mines, these officials conducted inspections of the mineral deposits in the region and conducting a one on one with the companies dealing in these mines highlighting the efforts of the Ugandan government to promote value addition to mineral resources within the Kigezi Sub Region and the country at large.
Minister Nankabirwa further says that due to the limited time, they were unable to inspect all the mines in the region pledging to gazette another time to come back and visit the remaining ones. She further appeals to the companies dealing in mining to realize the concept of local content by employing the locals to work in the mines.
When asked about the stranded mines in the region that were affected by the recent amended law for value addition denying the exportation of unprocessed minerals, Minister Nankabirwa attributes it to the issuance of licenses to miners without considering value addition requirements.
The State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hon David Bahati emphasizes that the intention behind the value addition law is to support industrialization in the country which will lead to the job creation and the generation of revenue.
Wilfred Niwagaba the Ndorwa County East legislator says that amidst Kigezi Sub Region being dominated with land fragmentation, the amended Mining and Mineral Act provides rights for the land owners were the minerals are deposited.
Brian Munanura the assistant general manager for Sino Minerals which is dealing in the processing and exportation on Iron Ore in Buhara, Kabale District stresses that their main challenge has been on land acquisition for the neighboring residents have resorted to over pricing their small pieces of land. He further calls upon the government to assist them on negotiations.
On the 18th October 2022, President Museveni signed into law the Mining and Minerals bill, 2022 which was passed by the parliament on the 17th February 2022. The Act sees the establishment of the Uganda National Mining Company which will manage the government’s commercial holding and participating interests in mineral agreements among other provisions.
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Nobert Ndyamuhakyi