Mining in Uganda: a guide for investors and partners

By Memnon Capital Africa · Published 1 October 2026 · Last updated 1 October 2026

Uganda’s mining sector is changing quickly. Gold has become the country’s largest export, a new mining law has redrawn the licensing system, and government is pushing to formalise the artisanal miners who produce most of the country’s own gold. This guide sets out the essentials for investors, licence holders, offtakers and technical partners considering mining in Uganda. It is written by Memnon Capital Africa, a Kampala-based minerals and mining company, and every figure is linked to its source.

Uganda mining at a glance

• Gold is the leading export. Gold exports were reported at about US$5.8 billion in 2025, up roughly 76% on 2024. Much of that gold is refined and traded in Uganda and originates elsewhere in the region; domestic mine output is far smaller [1].
• A new legal framework. The Mining and Minerals Act, adopted in October 2022, replaced the 2003 Mining Act and introduced new licence classes, an online mining cadastre and a state mining company [2][3][4].
• A large artisanal workforce. Press reports put the number of artisanal miners at an estimated 500,000, roughly 90,000 of them in gold [8]. planetGOLD reports that more than 90% of Uganda’s own gold output is artisanal [10].
• More than gold. Copper and cobalt at Kilembe and rare earths at Makuutu are among the projects being advanced [13][14].

Gold mining in Uganda

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas include Busia and Namayingo in the east, Mubende and Kitumbi in the centre, Karamoja in the north-east, and Buhweju, Ibanda and Kigezi in the west and south-west [17]. planetGOLD also works with miners in Kassanda [7]. Most of Uganda’s own gold production comes from artisanal and small-scale miners [10].

Two recent developments matter for anyone entering the sector. First, the Bank of Uganda began a three-year pilot programme in April 2026 to buy domestically mined gold from prequalified licensed miners for its reserves, paying in shillings at prices based on the international market [9]. Second, government has introduced biometric registration of gold and mineral buyers, aimed at fraud and illegal trade [11].

Geology and exploration

National airborne geophysical surveys now cover the whole country apart from Lake Victoria. The last area, Karamoja and Lamwo, was flown between 2021 and 2024 [15]. That data gives explorers a regional starting point, but it does not replace ground work: mapping, sampling, independent assay and drilling are still needed before any resource can be stated.

Memnon’s own exploration work follows a five-stage process.

Mining licences under the Mining and Minerals Act

Applications for mineral rights are made online through the Mining Cadastre and Registry System and are decided by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development [2]. The cadastre is run by a department of the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines (DGSM) [4]. The main licence types are summarised below.

Source: DGSM mineral licensing procedures, 2024 [2]. Terms can change; always confirm against the Act, the current regulations and DGSM before relying on them.

Three further points shape how projects are structured:

• State participation. For large- and medium-scale mining licences the State may take a free ownership interest of up to 15%, held through the Uganda National Mining Company [3].
• Environmental approval. Projects listed in the National Environment Act need an environmental and social impact assessment approved by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) [6]. Mining developments should plan for that process.
• Transparency. Uganda has been an EITI implementing country since August 2020, and the cadastre map of active licences is public [5].

At the Mineral Wealth Conference in September 2026, government said it intends to create a standalone mining regulator alongside the ministry and the national mining company. No timetable has been published [12].

Artisanal and small-scale mining and formalisation

Formalisation means bringing artisanal and small-scale miners into licensed, safer and better-financed operations. It is a stated government priority and a focus of Memnon’s work. The 2023 licensing regulations prohibit mercury use in mining [10]. planetGOLD estimates that about 73% of artisanal gold is still produced with mercury [7], which is why access to proper processing matters.

Our article on formalising small-scale gold mining in Uganda sets out what a responsible partnership between a licence holder and a developer should cover.

Critical minerals in Uganda

Besides gold, Uganda has deposits of copper, cobalt, graphite, rare earths and iron ore [18]. The Kilembe copper-cobalt mine is to be redeveloped under Uganda’s first mining production-sharing agreement, signed in March 2025 [13]. The Makuutu rare-earths project in eastern Uganda was placed under strategic review by its majority owner in July 2026 [14].

For Memnon, critical minerals are a planned next phase; that page sets out the current status.

Value addition and export rules

Uganda restricts the export of unprocessed minerals, a policy first set by presidential directive in 2015 and reaffirmed since [16]. In practice, investors should plan for processing in Uganda and for licences that cover it. This is one reason Memnon’s gold model is built around ore-to-doré processing in-country.

What this means for partners

• Investors and development-finance institutions: licence standing, environmental approval and traceability are now central to bankability. See our investment approach.
• Licence holders: a compliant licence plus verified geology is what attracts development capital. See how we assess ground.
• Offtakers and technical partners: buyer registration and the ban on mercury make traceable, properly processed gold the expected standard. See our processing and custody model.

Contact Memnon Capital Africa to discuss a project, a partnership or a media enquiry.

Sources

1. Mining Weekly / Reuters. Uganda's gold exports surged 76% last year to $5.8bn (20 January 2026)
2. Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines. Mineral licensing procedures and requirements (2024)
3. UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor. New Mining and Minerals Act 2022 (October 2022)
4. African Centre for Media Excellence. An overview of Uganda's new mining law (20 March 2022)
5. EITI. Uganda country page
6. NEMA Uganda. Environmental and social impact assessment
7. planetGOLD. Uganda country programme
8. Daily Monitor. Govt bets on formalising 500,000 artisanal miners to unlock revenue (17 August 2026)
9. Daily Monitor. Bank of Uganda launches three-year pilot to buy domestic gold for reserves (21 April 2026)
10. planetGOLD. Stakeholders learn about Uganda's new laws for the artisanal mining sector (30 November 2023)
11. NTV Uganda. New law seeks biometric registration for gold trade (18 May 2026)
12. PML Daily. Uganda to create standalone mining regulator and cut out middlemen, says minister (30 September 2026)
13. Mining Weekly / Reuters. Uganda signs maiden production sharing deal to revive copper mine (4 March 2025)
14. Mining Weekly. Ionic launches strategic review of Uganda rare earths project (31 July 2026)
15. Uganda Radio Network. Karamoja aerial mineral survey results (31 January 2025)
16. Daily Monitor. Ban on raw minerals export to stay (12 October 2022)
17. UNECA. Artisanal and small-scale mining profile: Uganda
18. Nile Post. Government to strengthen mineral data systems to support value addition (30 September 2026)

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Laws and policies change; check the current position with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, DGSM and qualified Ugandan counsel.