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President Yoweri Museveni has given investors from UK the nod to mine lithium in Ntungamo district.

The investors from Strand Hanson Ltd, an investment bank headquartered in London, were given the nod during a Thursday meeting at State House Entebbe.

 Lithium is a key component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.

"I received their proposal to mine lithium in Ntungamo district, enabling local manufacturing of electric car batteries," the President posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Currently, Uganda imports batteries for our electric vehicles, leading to unnecessary costs. I assured the investors of a ready market. I welcomed them and wished them good luck," he added.

The President, who promised the investors a mining licence through the energy ministry, said he wants the investors to 'link the mining with the processing'.

According to a statement from the President's press team, Museveni said: “I welcome you and support you, please go ahead and make the batteries. We can link you up with Kiira Motors which is making our electric vehicles to buy the batteries from you”.  

The President also assured the investors that the mining license shall be processed for them as soon as possible so that the mining process of lithium can commence.

Through a partnership with a locally based versatile mining and laboratories company, the investors will mine lithium and manufacture the electric batteries.

Johnny Kirkl, a representative of Strand Hanson Ltd, told the President that the mining site has already been identified in Ntungamo and it is only the mining license remaining to kick off the project.

Through a partnership with a locally based versatile mining and laboratories company, the investors will mine lithium and manufacture the electric batteries.

“I want to look at the possibility with your permission of opening up a factory to manufacture batteries instead of taking lithium out of the country. We should export the batteries after being produced here,” he said.

The President, who promised the investors a mining licence through the energy ministry, said he wants the investors to 'link the mining with the processing'.

The President recently asked the South African businesspeople to also pick interest in Uganda's E-mobility sector by investing in areas of manufacturing lithium batteries.

“We are building our own electric vehicles and we are also trying to come up with lithium car batteries. We shall make the batteries here so get me investors. We shall use our lithium batteries in our vehicles and export others," he implored them during a meeting at State House.