Internal affairs ministry decries funding gaps in regulation of commercial explosives

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The Ministry of Internal Affairs has raised concern over severe funding shortages that it says are crippling efforts to regulate commercial explosives in the country.

According to a report by Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee presented to the House, committee MPs said the Ministry faces a sh13.3b budget shortfall for the 2026/27 financial year in implementing the Explosives Act, 2023.

The Explosives Act, 2023 was enacted to modernise Uganda’s outdated explosives management regime and align it with current security and industrial demands.

The law introduced stronger licensing systems, inspection powers, permit controls and penalties for illegal possession or misuse of explosives.

At the time of its passage, legislators said the law would help streamline oversight in sectors such as mining, quarrying, oil and gas, and public works.

However, legislators heard that inadequate financing is undermining enforcement of key provisions of the law, including licensing storage facilities, issuing blasting permits, conducting security assessments, inspecting explosive sites and constructing a regional explosives magazine.

Funding shortfall impact

According to the committee report, the Ministry’s limited allocation means that only 15 inspections will be conducted out of the planned 110 inspections in the next financial year.

Similarly, only 15 security assessments will be undertaken out of the expected 100 assessments, leaving dozens of sites handling explosives without the required oversight.

Committee members warned that this creates dangerous gaps in monitoring companies that store or use explosives, especially in quarry operations and infrastructure projects where blasting materials are commonly used.

“The committee observed that underfunding of this critical function could compromise national security and public safety,” the report notes.

Lawmakers said regular inspections are essential to ensure compliance with safety standards, secure storage and proper use of explosives.

The internal affairs ministry is responsible for supervising the use of explosives through its specialised inspectorate, ensuring that companies using dynamite and related materials follow strict licensing and security procedures.

However, legislators said that without adequate resources, many storage magazines and quarry sites may go unchecked.

“This means some operators may continue handling explosives without sufficient scrutiny, which is a serious risk,” one committee member said in the report.

The committee also cited delays in the planned construction of an explosives magazine in the Central Region, a facility expected to improve safe storage and management of explosive materials.

Additional funding

Uganda has, in recent years, expanded road construction, quarrying and mineral extraction activities, increasing demand for explosives used in blasting rock and excavation.

To address the gaps, the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee has recommended an additional sh73.3b in the 2026/27 budget to support the regulation of commercial explosives.

The proposed funds would facilitate inspections, security assessments, licensing processes, enforcement operations, staffing and infrastructure development.

The committee argued that investing in preventive regulation is cheaper than dealing with disasters arising from mishandled explosives.

“Failure to supervise explosives adequately can have devastating consequences for lives, property and national security,” the report states.