Agric. & Environment
New initiative launched to help women join mineral processing
Musenero said Uganda's economic transformation requires a deliberate move from extraction to processing; from trading to manufacturing; and from exporting raw materials to producing higher-value finished and semi-finished products.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Monica Musenero (right) during the launch of the African Women in Processing (AWIP) mineral cluster in Uganda on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Courtesy of AWIP)
By: Prossy Nandudu, Journalist @New Vision
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Women interested in processing minerals can now do so under the newly launched African Women in Processing (AWIP) mineral cluster in Uganda.
The cluster was launched on Tuesday, August 18, by Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Monica Musenero, at the ongoing industrialisation conference organised by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives at the Kampala Serena Hotel in Kampala. The two-day conference ends today, August 19.
The annual regional industrialisation conference 2026 brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and private sector players to explore opportunities, foster innovation, and accelerate regional trade, among other activities.
The conference is running under the theme; Unlocking Industrial Competitiveness through Innovation and Regional Value Chain Integration.
While launching the cluster, Musenero said Uganda's economic transformation requires a deliberate move from extraction to processing; from trading to manufacturing; and from exporting raw materials to producing higher-value finished and semi-finished products.
She noted that women are already in the minerals sector, participating in artisanal and small-scale mining, sorting, grading and trading, and increasingly in gemstone cutting, polishing and finishing.
While launching the cluster, Musenero said Uganda's economic transformation requires a deliberate move from extraction to processing; from trading to manufacturing; and from exporting raw materials to producing higher-value finished and semi-finished products.
She noted that women are already in the minerals sector, participating in artisanal and small-scale mining, sorting, grading and trading, and increasingly in gemstone cutting, polishing and finishing.
“What is left is sharing processing facilities, cutting and polishing technology, quality assurance, skills development and structured access to markets,” Musenero said.
She added that this is the only way women will be in position to produce premium products for international markets, which will in turn cause development as opposed to exporting gemstones in their raw form.
At the same function, Elizabeth Kasenene, the president of AWIP, said that her association aims at empowering women in processing through inclusive policy frameworks, infrastructure, skills development and access to markets.
The AWIP Forum is a continental initiative of the African Union Commission’s Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals.
It was established to champion women’s leadership in Africa’s industrial transformation, especially in processing, manufacturing, and value addition.
She added that this is the only way women will be in position to produce premium products for international markets, which will in turn cause development as opposed to exporting gemstones in their raw form.
At the same function, Elizabeth Kasenene, the president of AWIP, said that her association aims at empowering women in processing through inclusive policy frameworks, infrastructure, skills development and access to markets.
The AWIP Forum is a continental initiative of the African Union Commission’s Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals.
It was established to champion women’s leadership in Africa’s industrial transformation, especially in processing, manufacturing, and value addition.