The Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals, in partnership with GIZ Uganda, has launched an 800 million shilling initiative to formalize the country’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
The project, known as the Training, Equipping, and Nurturing to Thrive (TENT) Grant Initiative, aims to transition informal mining operations into professional enterprises. Guided by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the program seeks to bolster the sector’s contribution to the national gross domestic product.
Humphrey Asiimwe, CEO of the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals, said the project provides the training and equipment necessary to move artisanal miners into structured business models.
The 12-month initiative, which began in November 2025 and runs through October 2026, is part of a broader program for the sustainable development of the mining industry. The project is funded by the European Union and the German government and implemented by GIZ.
The grant covers 10 districts across five regions, including Mubende, Moroto, and Busia. It focuses on high-value mineral chains such as gold, tin, tungsten, and iron ore. The goal is to support 20 cooperatives in formalizing their operations while providing access to financial services and structured markets.
Asiimwe noted that financial institutions have committed to de-risking the sector to offer banking and credit services. He added that miners will be linked directly to private sector off-takers and government entities like the Uganda National Mining Company.
The project also includes a focus on gender inclusivity, with a requirement that 20 percent of the cooperatives be women-led.
David Ssebaggala, a senior inspector of mines at the energy ministry, said formalization is a central pillar of Uganda’s mining policy. He noted that the Mining and Minerals Act of 2022 and subsequent 2025 regulations created a legal pathway for artisanal miners to obtain licenses and scale their operations.
To improve oversight, the government is currently conducting biometric registration for miners.
Officials expect the initiative to lead to the legal and environmental compliance of 20 cooperatives, each consisting of at least 30 members. The project will also facilitate participation in trade fairs and conduct feasibility studies for a national umbrella cooperative union.
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