KAMPALA — Uganda is seeking to turn its substantial mineral potential into investment, industrial production and greater domestic value addition as the country prepares to host the 15th Annual Mineral Wealth Conference and Expo.
The conference, scheduled for 29–30 September 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, will be held under the theme “Beneath the Surface: Unlocking Africa’s Next Mining Powerhouse.”
It will be followed by an Eastern Uganda excursion from 1–3 October, designed to expose participants to the region’s mineral potential and investment opportunities.
The 2026 event has also been listed by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development as a major sector engagement.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, State Minister for Mineral Development Phiona Nyamutoro said Uganda’s priority should now be to convert its geological endowment into tangible economic opportunities.
“Our ambition must go beyond simply knowing what lies beneath our soil.
We must translate our mineral potential into productive investment, employment, industrial capacity, value addition and sustainable national wealth,” Nyamutoro said.
Uganda has identified more than 58 categories of minerals, with high-resolution aeromagnetic surveys mapping areas with potential for exploration and investment.
Among the strategic opportunities are rare earth elements, gold, iron ore, phosphates, graphite, cobalt, copper, lithium, coltan and other 3Ts, limestone, marble and vermiculite.
Nyamutoro said these resources have applications in critical industries ranging from clean-energy technologies and electric vehicles to steel production, fertiliser manufacturing, electronics and construction.
She stressed that the country must therefore move beyond the traditional model of extracting and exporting raw minerals.
“We must increasingly move from the export of raw minerals towards processing, beneficiation, refining, manufacturing and other downstream activities that create greater value within our economy,” she said.
According to Nyamutoro, achieving this transition will require investment in technology, skills, infrastructure, finance and geological knowledge, alongside regulatory frameworks that support responsible investment.
She consequently invited investors, financiers, technology providers and other industry players to consider opportunities across the entire mineral value chain.
“We want investors who are prepared to participate not only in exploration and extraction, but also in processing, refining, manufacturing, technology and other value-addition opportunities,” Nyamutoro said.
The Minister also placed emphasis on the formalisation of Uganda’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector, recognising its contribution to livelihoods and local economies.
Rather than simply removing informal miners from the sector, she said Government wants to support them to operate legally, safely, productively and responsibly.
“Our approach is therefore not simply to remove miners from the sector, but to support them to operate legally, safely, productively and responsibly,” Nyamutoro said.
She urged artisanal and small-scale miners to work with Government and comply with the country’s mining laws and regulations, noting that formalisation can improve access to legitimate markets, technology, skills and finance while strengthening accountability.
The Minister further underscored the need for mineral development to balance economic opportunity with environmental and social responsibility.
“Responsible mineral development must protect human life, occupational health and safety, the environment, communities and the mineral resource itself.
We must develop a mining sector in which economic opportunity and responsible resource governance go hand in hand,” she said.
Nyamutoro said the Mineral Wealth Conference has evolved into an important platform connecting Uganda’s mineral sector with international investors, policymakers, financiers, innovators and other stakeholders.
Previous editions have attracted more than 1,000 delegates annually, with participation from more than 52 countries, while facilitating business and investment engagements.
This year’s conference will feature Business-to-Business engagements and a Deals Room, creating opportunities for investors and project developers to identify projects, establish partnerships and explore investment opportunities.
Nyamutoro said the focus should be on converting dialogue into concrete investment and production.
“We want to move from conversation to action, from mineral potential to investment, and from investment to production and value addition,” she said.
Investment opportunities, she noted, extend across exploration and mine development, mineral processing and beneficiation, refining, manufacturing, mining equipment and technology, infrastructure, logistics and supporting services.
Nyamutoro also called for increased participation of young people and women in the mineral value chain, arguing that the sector should create opportunities beyond government revenue generation.
“Mining should not only generate government revenue.
It should create jobs, businesses, skills, innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities,” she said.
She said young Ugandans and women should be positioned to participate as entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, technical professionals, researchers and leaders.
The Minister also pointed to technology, innovation, data, environmental responsibility and new business models as increasingly important to the future of mining.
She said Government cannot unlock Uganda’s mineral potential alone and called for sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors, financial institutions, development partners, academia, research institutions, communities and industry associations such as the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals.
As the conference approaches, Nyamutoro said the central issue for Uganda should no longer be simply identifying the minerals beneath its soil, but determining how those resources can drive industrialisation and create lasting economic value.
“The question is no longer simply, ‘What minerals does Uganda have?’ The more important question is:
‘What are we going to build from the mineral resources we have?’” she said.
She urged investors and other stakeholders to attend the conference prepared to identify partnerships and pursue concrete projects.
“Come and explore Uganda’s opportunities. Come and engage with Government.
Come and identify credible partners and investment opportunities. And, most importantly, come ready to invest, produce, add value and build,” Nyamutoro said.
She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to developing a mineral sector that is competitive, responsible, inclusive and capable of contributing to Uganda’s economic transformation.
“There is significant opportunity beneath the surface.
Our responsibility now is to unlock that opportunity responsibly, strategically and for the benefit of the people of Uganda, while ensuring that our mineral wealth contributes to the prosperity of present and future generations,” she said.
