Miners Urged To Have Licenses Before Carrying Out Any Activity
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, has spoken out on the key milestones of the Mineral Development Programme, saying that the Ministry has registered several achievements in the
programme.
She added that the ministry, in conjunction with the Attorney General's Chambers, has also commenced the development of regulations to operationalise the provisions of the new law
The minister, who addressed journalists in Kampala, says the law is progressive and will see a further development of Uganda’s mineral sector.
According to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa new gold targets have been identified in several parts of Uganda, including Buhweju, Mubende, Namayingo, Karamoja, and Zombo districts. The exploitation of these minerals can lead to the growth of the economy and the minister called upon the people to support the exploration and extraction process.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development launched the biometric registration of Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (ASM) in December 2021 to streamline operations and increase revenues. Other initiatives shall include zoning Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining areas, formalization and regularization, training and provision of extension services. The minister called for public support for these initiatives.
The Mining and Mineral Act 2022, provides for competitive bidding for mineral licenses, exploration for geothermal resources and their direct uses, state equity participation, and establishing a state-owned mining company to cater for the state’s commercial interests in mining. The Act establishes mineral production sharing, local content, international treaties domestication and ASM regulation.
The new Mining and Mineral Act 2022, which came into force on October 28, 2022, implements the objectives of the Mining and Mineral Policy 2018. The new law is expected to address critical challenges and increase revenue from the mineral
sector. It introduces a comprehensive, stable, transparent, efficient and effective legal and regulatory framework to govern the mining sub-sector.
