Youth Tapped to Drive Uganda’s Mining Future as Sector Eyes Untapped Potential
Busia, Uganda – Uganda’s mining sector is poised for a generational shift, with young people being called upon to lead innovation and drive sustainable growth across the entire mineral value chain. This was the clarion call during the inaugural Youth Mining Day, held earlier today at Busitema University in Busia.
Organized by the Junior Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals in partnership with key stakeholders, the event marked a historic effort to position the youth not merely as future professionals, but as critical players in exploration, value addition, and commercialization.
“Up to 80% of Uganda’s land mass remains unexplored,” noted speakers at the event. “That speaks to immense untapped potential for employment and economic transformation.”
With the mineral sector rapidly expanding, experts underscored the urgency for young Ugandans to develop locally tailored methodologies and technologies that ensure responsible and sustainable mineral exploitation. The challenge, they said, lies in bridging the gap between exploration, quantification, extraction, value addition, and commercialization.
“We must link mining knowledge to practicability,” organizers emphasized. “That is how we will see our economy thrive.”
The message was clear: Uganda’s mineral wealth is not just about extraction—it is about building a homegrown workforce capable of solving the sector’s deep-seated challenges with innovation and integrity.
Meanwhile, in Kasanda: Agreement Reached to Resolve Artisanal Mining Dispute
In a parallel development, the team spent the day at the AUC Mine in Kasanda, addressing a pressing dispute involving the intrusion of artisanal miners on an existing mining license.
After lengthy deliberations, a resolution was reached. All parties agreed to comply with the Mining Act, and a transition plan has been put in place for the artisanal miners, with an implementation timeline of one year.
“We are glad that at the end of the day, an agreement was arrived at,” a spokesperson said. “We continue to call upon cooperation from all miners to always abide by the laws to avoid evictions.”
The agreement is seen as a significant step toward balancing the rights of licensed operators with the livelihoods of artisanal workers, while upholding the rule of law in Uganda’s rapidly evolving mining landscape.
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