Busia, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has strongly imposed a ban on exporting unprocessed minerals, branding it as detrimental to Uganda’s economic growth.
The declaration came as he commissioned the Wagagai Gold Processing Project, a pivotal initiative aimed at industrialising Uganda’s mineral sector.
“We will not export unprocessed minerals, as this undermines our economy,” Museveni emphasised in a statement released on the evening, reaffirming his government’s stance against exporting unprocessed minerals, insisting that local processing is critical to strengthening Uganda’s economy.
The Wagagai project, located in Buteba Sub-County, is set to process gold at a 99.9% purity rate, generating over $100 million annually for 21 years and creating more than 5,000 jobs once fully operational.
Uganda’s Gold Boom and Economic Stakes
Gold has become Uganda’s dominant export, contributing a significant share of foreign exchange earnings. In the 2023/24 financial year, gold accounted for over 42% of total export receipts, while by March 2025, gold exports had earned Uganda US$3.788 billion out of total export earnings of US$11.81 billion (Shs 43 trillion).
In the first five months of 2025, Uganda earned approximately US$1.91 billion from gold exports, and this justifies why the President insisted that local processing is now a must to maximise benefits.
“Wagagai aims to achieve 99.9% purity in gold processing locally, benefiting Uganda financially and creating over 5,000 jobs once fully operational,” Mr Museveni stated. “I urge other miners to ensure minerals are processed before export. By maximising our natural resources, gold, lithium, tea, iron, etc., we can create jobs and industrialize Uganda,” he added.
The project, according to the government, is projected to generate over US$100 million annually for 21 years, anchoring Uganda’s industrial capacity.
Museveni’s value-addition drive, amplified by the Wagagai project, seeks to restore mining’s economic prominence while enhancing job creation and industrial capacity.
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