KAMPALA, Uganda — The government has moved to sanitize the artisanal gold mining sector through a new safety agreement designed to eliminate mercury use and improve safety standards in mining pits across the country.
The Uganda National Mining Company signed the cooperation memorandum Wednesday with the Mubende United Miners’ Assembly and the Buhweju District United Miners Co-operative Society Limited. The agreement, signed at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, marks a shift toward formalizing small-scale operations that have historically operated with limited oversight.
The partnership focuses on enforcing occupational health and safety standards, building technical capacity among local miners and ensuring all gold production is traceable and compliant with national laws.
Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, in a speech delivered by Permanent Secretary Irene Batebe, said the initiative is critical for protecting both the environment and the workers who drive the sector.
“As we continue to integrate artisanal and small-scale miners into the broader mining sector through partnerships like this, we unlock their potential to contribute to Uganda’s economy at an even greater scale,” Nankabirwa said.
The minister noted that the artisanal and small-scale mining sector provides employment to more than 300,000 people. By sanitizing these operations, the government aims to promote environmentally sound, mercury-free gold processing, which has been a major health concern in rural mining communities.
MUMA and BUDUMICS are among nine small-scale mining groups currently licensed by the ministry. John Bosco Bukya, chairperson of the Uganda Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners Association, said the move will help move miners away from informal, high-risk practices toward a regulated system.
The government is betting on these reforms to help increase the mining sector’s contribution to GDP from 1.9 percent to 7.9 percent. Officials also hope to see mineral revenues rise from 180 billion shillings to 750 billion shillings by 2030.
UNMC Chief Executive Officer Gerald Banaga-Baingi and board chairperson James Mukasa Sebugenyi attended the signing. UNMC leadership committed to mobilizing affordable financing for these miners to ensure they have the equipment necessary to meet the new safety and environmental standards.