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Naming National Mining Company board is a bold step forward
Writer: Humphrey Asiimwe. PHOTO/COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The institutions, newly created or already in place, must operate efficiently and remain accountable to all stakeholders.
November 4 heralded a transformative milestone for Uganda’s mining sector. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) unveiled the inaugural nine-member Board of Directors for the National Mining Company (NMC).
This critical step establishes the NMC as a cornerstone of the state’s aspirations to advance Uganda’s commercial interests, national participation, and regulatory oversight in line with the Mining and Minerals Act of 2022.We commend the ministry for taking this important step and warmly congratulate the newly appointed Board, ably led by Mr James Mukasa Ssebugenyi.
Alongside him are the vice chairperson, Mr James Byagaba and esteemed members Kevin Aanyu, Agnes Alaba, Dr Alex Kwatampora Binego Zentaro, Maria Kiwanuka Nabasirye Kiwana, Francis Twinamatsiko, Wilfred Kokas Aupaul, and John Fisher Kanyemibwa, who all bring a wealth of experience and a direct or allied focus on mining.
We are confident that, under MEMD’s diligent oversight and support from the Uganda Chamber of Mines & Petroleum, this Board will nurture this "newborn" into a robust entity that will drive transformative growth for Uganda’s mining sector.The NMC, established under the Mining & Minerals Act 2022, reflects Uganda’s ambition to maximise the benefits of its mineral resources. The Act mandates the NMC to hold a 15 percent free carried interest in a large-scale mining licence, or medium-scale mining licence on behalf of the government.
This critical provision safeguards a guaranteed share of revenue from mining operations, ensuring these returns directly support Uganda’s prosperity.
By centralising state ownership and participation in mineral ventures, the NMC strengthens transparency, accountability, and revenue tracking—measures essential to curbing illegal mining and eliminating unregulated revenue channels. Through proactive engagement in mining projects, the NMC also aims to attract international partnerships and support local businesses, ultimately building capacity within Uganda’s mining industry and creating employment opportunities.
With a dedicated entity managing the nation’s mineral interests, the government will be able to oversee mining operations more effectively and ensure they align with Uganda’s national goals for sustainable and environmentally responsible resource management. With Uganda’s ambition to drive value addition, the NMC will champion efforts to process and refine minerals locally, fostering industry growth and amplifying the economic benefit of mining within Uganda.
This forward-looking approach, modeled on successful frameworks from other resource-rich nations, positions Uganda’s mining sector as a powerful engine for economic growth and sustainable development. The Board’s tenure coincides with Uganda’s prioritisation of the mining sector in National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), which will guide development from 2025 to 2030 with a focus on agriculture, tourism, mining, science, technology, and innovation.
Uganda’s diverse mineral resources—including gold, copper, cobalt, iron ore, tin, tungsten, beryl, lithium, tantalum, phosphates, limestone, vermiculite, salt, rare earth elements, and marble—offer a golden opportunity to secure a prosperous future for the “Pearl of Africa.”
For this vision to materialise, however, the institutions, newly created or already in place, must operate efficiently and remain accountable to all stakeholders.
As a chamber, we shall work hand-in-glove with the NMC to progress our mineral potential to meet the aspirations of both the investors and Ugandans.
The writer, Humphrey Asiimwe, is the CEO Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.
