Kampala, Uganda: Stakeholders in Uganda’s mining sector have called for the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, faster licensing processes and greater financial inclusion to ensure communities benefit more from the country’s growing mineral wealth.
The calls were made during the sixth edition of the Great Lakes Mining and Energy Transition (Mkutano) Conference, which brought together government officials, artisanal miners, development partners, civil society organisations and private sector players to discuss responsible mining and community empowerment.
The conference, held under the theme, “Applying Business and Human Rights Practices to Improve Community Benefits from Mining Projects,” attracted about 120 participants from across the Great Lakes Region.
Among the participating organisations were the Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy (ACEMP), ENABEL, the Uganda Association of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners Limited (UGAASM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and representatives of artisanal mining communities.
Speaking at the conference, ACEMP Executive Director Don Bwesigye Binyina said the Mkutano provides an important platform for government, investors and communities to work together in promoting responsible and sustainable mining.
“Uganda is endowed with significant mineral resources, including an estimated 350 million tonnes of rare earth elements and graphite deposits in Kitgum District,” Binyina said.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration to ensure Uganda’s mineral resources contribute to sustainable economic development while protecting the interests of host communities.
Artisanal miners seek easier licensing and financing
Stakeholders urged government to accelerate licensing procedures, improve access to affordable financing for artisanal miners and strengthen community engagement in mining projects.
John Bosco Bukya, Chairperson of the Uganda Association of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners Limited (UGAASM), said many miners remain excluded from formal financial systems.
“Most of my members are business-minded. Most of the member associations are having challenges in licensing. Financial inclusion is not easy because these mining entities struggle to access funding from financial institutions,” Bukya said.
Participants argued that simplifying licensing procedures and expanding access to finance would enable artisanal miners to formalise their operations, improve productivity and comply with environmental and regulatory standards.
Lucy Peace Nantume, a Business and Human Rights Expert at ENABEL, said communities should be empowered to understand and protect their land rights while organising themselves to negotiate better benefits from mining investments.
“We are sensitising communities about their land rights and how they can unite to establish collective businesses so that they benefit when projects come to their areas,” Nantume said.
She noted that stronger community organisation would enable local residents to participate more meaningfully in mining-related economic opportunities.
Since its inception in 2019, the Great Lakes Mining and Energy Transition (Mkutano) Conference has served as a regional platform promoting transparency, environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, and greater participation of communities, particularly women, in the mining sector.
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