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President Yoweri Museveni is Friday expected to commission the Woodcroos Tin smelting factory, Uganda’s first and East Africa’s second-ever tin processing factory in Ruti, Mbarara city.

Energy and mineral development minister Ruth Nankabirwa (left) shakes hands with the newly appointed state minister for mineral development Phiona Nyamutoro as Clare Mugumya (second right), the Isingiro district Woman MP and Irene Batebe, the energy ministry permanent secretary looks on at the commissioning of the Woodcross tin processing facility in Mbarara city on Friday. (Photo by Benon Ojiambo)

The commissioning of the new factory follows the Government’s decision to ban the exportation of unprocessed tin after raising the mineral’s purity levels in December last year.

A Woodcross employee works inside the tin processing facility in Mbarara City. (Photo by Benon Ojiambo)

Woodcroos Tin smelting facility in Mbarara city. (Photo by Benon Ojiambo)

The commissioning is being attended by the energy and mineral development minister, Ruth Nankabirwa, Karamoja affairs minister Peter Lokeris, newly appointed state minister for mineral development Phiona Nyamutoro, energy state minister Okaasai Opolt, Members of Parliament, energy ministry permanent secretary Irene Batebe and several other dignitaries.