'Review mining laws to attract more investors'

By vision reporters

As the mining sector, start to gain momentum, the miners are calling on the Government to speed up the review of mining laws especially on surface rights.

Addressing Journalists at Sheraton Kampala on Monday, members of the Uganda chambers of Mines and Petroleum noted that although Uganda is dotted with minerals all over the country, most of it has not been fully exploited due “loopholes” in the laws.

“If we have to attract investors in the mining sector, we need to change some of the laws and also invest money in the sector,” the Chamber chairman Elly Karuhanga told Journalists.

 “We want the laws reviewed especially the issue of surface rights so that the Investors do not have to fight to access the land with minerals. Currently, some people refuse or make it very difficult for investors to access their land. Compensation is also very expensive,” Karuhanga added.

In order to highlight Uganda’s mineral wealth potentials, the Chamber has organized a mineral wealth conference that is expected to attract over 400 partisans.

The conference under the theme investing in Uganda’s flourishing mining industry is scheduled to take place on October 1 and 2 2013.

According to Edward Katto, acting commissioner department of geological survey and mines, the Government has set up a team to study the Mining Act and identify the loopholes.

“In order to assure and provide more confidence to the investors in the mineral sector the ministry of Energy has plans to review the mining law and regulations by 2015. There’s also a proposal to review land regulations so as to provide for a quick compulsory acquisition of land for all government projects as it is done in most countries,” he said.

He elaborated the challenges faced by the sector and assured the members that the Government is working on a number of plans to revive the sector.