Uganda absent at Africa mining meet in Ethiopia

By Ibrahim Kasita in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

UGANDA has not featured in the on-going second conference of ministers responsible for mineral resources development held in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa where the African Mining Vision action plan report has been adopted.

It was expected that mineral experts and government officials will join the rest of African colleagues to debate, amend and adopt the report that aims at building a sustainable future for Africa’s extractive industry.

However, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, the other East African countries, had representatives. The three countries are Uganda’s direct competitors for mining investors and foreign direct investments.

The week-long meeting is jointly organized by African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

The African Mining Vision Report was compiled by a team of 20 experts- the International Study Group (ISG) – drawn from the United Nations,universities, Civil Society and the mining research community in Africa, Europe and North America.

 The experts were identified by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the African Union Commission.

The Report, which runs to over 200 pages includes numerous case studies and data on all aspects of mining in Africa – and indeed frequently makes reference to experience outside the continent.

Wilfred Lombe, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in-charge of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Development said one reason that mineral wealth has not led to development in Africa is that mining has until now often been treated as a separate issue.

“Most of the time policy decisions have been dominated by questions of how best to tax mining companies and then how to spend the revenue and this is a reflection of the enclave status of much mining in Africa,” he said.

“The Report is different because it examines howmining could become the motor of development. It puts mining centre stage and argues it can be a catalyst for development rather just a revenue generating opportunity.”

Each chapter of the Report identifies the policy implications that come out of its detailed analysis of Africa mining regimes.

Further it emphasises that there is a need to revisit the major issues one by
one; but this must be done each time from a development perspective.

The experts and senior officials are currently reviewing an Action Plan for consideration by the Ministers responsible for Minerals later today and tomorrow.

It is expected that the Ministers will adopt the Action Plan for implementation.