Officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development have held a stakeholder consultation and sensitization workshop that took place on June 11, 2024, at Busia district headquarters to sensitize artisanal miners on the new mining regulations and acts. The consultations are set to take place across the country, starting in eastern Uganda.

The State Minister of Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), Phiona Nyamutoro, said that the activities of the artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) have been very prominent in the gold sector, forming the basis of most discoveries such as the Tiira and Alupe gold mines, and that they have played a critical role in the local economic development if regulated well.

“I am particularly passionate about the inclusion and empowerment of youth, women, and marginalized groups in our economy. The ASM sector offers significant opportunities for these groups to participate in and benefit from our country’s natural resources,” she said.

Agnes Alaba, the commissioner of mines, noted that the ministry recognizes the roles played by the ASM sector, like improving the livelihood of people directly or indirectly, and that it is also a critical driver for the economic growth of the country, stating that the ministry has put up some strategies for the sector to develop.
“We conducted a benchmarking trip for ASM miners to Tanzania to learn best practices in Tanzania and foster good relations between ASM and other mining entities,” she noted.

In 2022, the government of Uganda passed the Mining and Minerals (Licensing) Regulations 2023, which give priority to top-bidding mining companies to take over major mining sites while ASM miners are given starting mining sites.