Context
Uganda holds significant deposits of critical raw materials such as graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements, vital for renewable energy technologies. However, Uganda’s mining industry faces persistent challenges: Most extraction is done by artisanal and small scale miners using inefficient and unsafe methods with little oversight. Moreover, weak regulation, limited access to geological data and finance, and poor enforcement hinder formal growth and deter investment. At the same time, environmental damage and social concerns create resistance from host communities, complicating efforts to expand mining operations responsibly.
Objective
Uganda provides a more reliable and transparent environment for mining that supports economic progress and social development.
Approach
The project works with national institutions to improve mining practices in Uganda and cooperates with regional partners in the Great lakes Region to enhance coordination and ensure responsible resource governance. It focuses on five areas of action:
- Promoting investment in mining through a national strategy, digitisation, and publication of geological data
- Formalising artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) by supporting cooperatives and training in safe practices
- Encouraging domestic mineral processing and value addition through skills development and improved access to finance
- Enhancing government oversight of mining activities via digitised processes
Promoting responsible sourcing in line with Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) standards.
Last update: September 2025
