Uganda Lures Global Mining Investors to Boost Value Addition and Jobs

Uganda has stepped up its campaign to attract international investors into the country’s mining sector, placing strong emphasis on mineral processing, value addition, and integration into global supply chains.

A high-level Ugandan delegation is currently attending the International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo (IMARC 2026) in Sydney, Australia. The team includes Uganda’s High Commissioner to Australia, Ms. Dorothy Samali Hyuha, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Commissioner Vincent Kedi, and Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum CEO Humphrey Asiimwe.

While Uganda participated primarily as an observer last year, the country has returned this year as an active participant to market its diverse mineral wealth. This wealth includes deposits of gold, copper, cobalt, iron ore, graphite, rare earth elements, and various industrial minerals.

Speaking at the summit, Ms. Hyuha stressed the importance of turning economic diplomacy into tangible commercial partnerships. She noted that the government is looking for strategic partners willing to invest beyond simple raw extraction by supporting domestic processing, technology transfer, and local capacity building.

Mr. Kedi acknowledged that geological potential alone is insufficient without proper infrastructure, technical expertise, and international capital. He highlighted that the ministry’s policy is shifting decidedly toward local value addition and skills development, moving away from the reliance on raw material exports.

From the private sector, Mr. Asiimwe pointed out that attracting competitive global capital requires presenting credible, commercially viable projects. He stated that the private sector aims to bridge the gap between foreign investors and local execution, ensuring that incoming investments strengthen domestic supply chains and generate specialized jobs for Ugandans.

During the expo, the delegation also engaged with technology providers to explore digital monitoring systems designed to improve operational efficiency and sustainable mineral management.

Read more about this story in the Daily Monitor.