Uganda Pushes In-Country Beneficiation and Regional Mining Cooperation at Egypt Mining Forum 2026
CAIRO, EGYPT — Uganda’s Minister of Minerals, Hon. Nyamutoro, has outlined Uganda’s strategic shift from raw mineral exports to in-country beneficiation and value addition, speaking at the Egypt Mining Forum 2026, held under the patronage of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
During the Strategic Ministerial Panel on “Unlocking Egypt and the Arabian Nubian Shield’s Exploration Potential,” Nyamutoro said Uganda is endowed with graphite, rare earth elements, copper and development minerals. She stressed that the country’s priority is to move beyond exporting raw materials to producing high-value products that create jobs, build industry and increase Uganda’s contribution to GDP.
She outlined three priorities guiding Uganda’s approach:
- Transparent and competitive licensing;
- Credible geological data to de-risk investment; and
- Regional cooperation on downstream processing and responsible sourcing.
On the sidelines of the forum, Nyamutoro held bilateral meetings with H.E. Eng. Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; fellow African ministers from the DRC, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya and Saudi Arabia; and development partners including the World Bank Group, EBRD and Afreximbank.
Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) and to building an integrated, sustainable mining ecosystem across Africa.
Nyamutoro expressed profound gratitude to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and the Mineral Resources & Mining Industries Authority for the warm hospitality extended to her and the Ugandan delegation during the Egypt Mining Forum 2026.
She said the excellent organization and substantive discussions had provided a strong foundation for deeper cooperation between Uganda and Egypt, adding that she looked forward to continued engagement and exchange on regional value addition and investment.
About The Author
