Uganda Aims to Boost Mineral Value Addition, Reduce Raw Exports

Uganda is strategically shifting its focus towards increasing the local processing and value addition of its abundant mineral resources. The government’s ambition is to move away from exporting minerals in their raw form and instead attract investments that will foster domestic beneficiation, refining, and manufacturing capabilities.

This strategic direction was highlighted by Phiona Nyamutoro, the State Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, during the launch of the 15th Annual Mineral Wealth Conference. The conference, scheduled for September 29-30 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, will operate under the theme “Beneath the Surface: Unlocking Africa’s Next Mining Powerhouse,” with a subsequent field trip to Eastern Uganda.

Minister Nyamutoro emphasized a crucial pivot in the nation’s approach. “The question is no longer simply, what minerals does Uganda have? The more important question is: what are we going to build from the mineral resources we have?” she stated, underscoring the need for tangible development from the country’s mineral wealth.

Uganda possesses a diverse range of identified mineral categories, exceeding 58. These include valuable resources like rare earths, gold, iron ore, phosphates, graphite, cobalt, copper, lithium, coltan, and other 3Ts, alongside significant deposits of limestone, marble, and vermiculite. Recent high-resolution aeromagnetic surveys have further pinpointed additional promising areas for exploration.

“Our ambition must go beyond simply knowing what lies beneath our soil. We must translate our mineral potential into productive investment, employment, industrial capacity, value addition and sustainable national wealth,” Nyamutoro urged. She acknowledged that many mineral-rich nations have historically captured only a fraction of the value chain from their natural resources, a pattern Uganda aims to break by engaging in downstream processing activities to ensure more economic benefits remain within the country.

Source: Nile Post