Overview:
The licensing of mining will with effect from this year be competitive. The law also provides for mineral processing licenses. It also provides for express penalties.
The Directorate of Geological Surveys and Mines in the Ministry of Energy is to set resume issuing mining licences to all companies involved in mining in Uganda.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ workshop in Kampala on Tuesday, 29 August 2023, State Minister for Minerals Peter Lokeris said under the new mining and Minerals Act, guidelines to regulate the sector have now been put in place.
The issuance of the licenses by the Directorate of Geological Surveys and Mines had been temporally halted pending the guidelines after the enactment of the Mining and Mineral Act 2022.
According to the minister, the new law has for the first time recognized artisan miners.
The new law established classes of mineral rights which include small-sale and artisanal mining license.
Other licenses in the law include large-scale mining licenses; medium-scale mining licenses and small-scale mining licenses.
While the licensing has been on halt, the minister revealed that the country has over time registered an increase in the number of persons or companies awarded different types of mining licenses.
“In 2003, there were about 100 mineral licences. As of 30th June 2023, we have granted 556 (Five hundred fifty-six) licenses, these include 249 (two hundred forty-nine) exploration licenses, 8 (eight) retention licenses, 48 (forty-eight) mining Leases, and 76 (seventy-six) location licenses,” he said.
“This increase in licenses in the mineral sector is accompanied by a corresponding increase in income and revenue from the sector,” he added.
The licensing of mining will with effect from this year be competitive. The law also provides for mineral processing licenses. It also provides for express penalties.