Govt extends mineral licensing suspension by three months
Under the proposed framework, "licensing decisions will be guided by national development strategies for individual minerals, with the Government seeking to ensure that Uganda exports minerals at the highest level of value addition that can be achieved."
According to Musenero, the extension would allow it to operationalise the proposed strategic mineral licensing by design framework. (New Vision/Files)
The Government has extended the suspension of issuing new mineral licences by three months to enable the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to streamline the framework promoting value addition, industrialisation and transparency.
During the period, the ministry will conduct stakeholder consultations, develop detailed operational procedures, strengthen institutional safeguards and pursue the legal and regulatory arrangements to implement the framework, energy minister Dr Monica Musenero said in a statement dated October 27, 2026.
According to Musenero, the extension would allow it to operationalise the proposed strategic mineral licensing by design framework.
The extension follows an initial one-month suspension announced on August 28, 2026, during which the energy ministry reviewed the existing licensing system to establish whether it aligns with Uganda’s national development priorities.
The review recommended a shift from an application-driven licensing system to an approach in which mineral rights are granted based on their contribution to industrialisation and economic transformation.
The ministry said processing requirements would be strengthened as domestic industrial capacity develops.
"The framework also proposes the establishment of a Minerals Industrialisation Scientific and Economic Committee to provide technical advice and ensure that licensing decisions are informed by scientific and economic evidence," the statement said.
Other proposed reforms include separating licensing administration, technical evaluation, integrity reviews and final decision-making to strengthen accountability and reduce individual discretion.
The ministry said licensing criteria, decisions and supporting reasons would be published, subject to applicable legal protections, to promote fairness and investor confidence.
The framework further proposes monitoring mineral rights holders against approved development commitments, with sanctions for persistent non-compliance.
The ministry, however, stated that licensing requirements would be proportionate to the scale and strategic importance of mineral operations, with appropriate arrangements for artisanal and small-scale miners.
Musenero also stated that the proposed system will provide for documented reasons for licensing decisions and mechanisms for administrative review and dispute resolution.
The reforms are aligned with the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022, the Mining and Mineral Policy, 2018, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
“The Government remains committed to attracting responsible investment while ensuring that the country’s mineral resources generate greater domestic value, employment, technological advancement and sustainable economic growth,” the minister stated.
The ministry called on investors, mineral rights holders and other stakeholders to support the transition towards a transparent, predictable and development-oriented mineral licensing regime.