Uganda’s mineral potential high - Report
Jan 11, 2009
A new report on Uganda’s mineral resources indicates that the south- western region has the highest potential in the country. Southwestern Uganda, under what is zoned as Block 7, is endowed with gold and diamond in Kigezi and in the Buhweju hills in Bus
By Raymond Baguma
and Ibrahim Kasita
A new report on Uganda’s mineral resources indicates that the south- western region has the highest potential in the country. Southwestern Uganda, under what is zoned as Block 7, is endowed with gold and diamond in Kigezi and in the Buhweju hills in Bushenyi district.
There is tin, wolfram and nickel in Kikagati. Other areas under Block 7 include Kasese with copper and cobalt, according to the report compiled following an airborne survey carried out since December 2006.
The data was released on Thursday to stakeholders in the mining industry at the energy ministry’s boardroom in Kampala.
The data will be used to identify prospective mining areas to attract investors, according to Joshua Tuhumwire, the commissioner for geological survey and mines.
Tuhumwire said during the survey undertaken by Fugro Airborne Surveys, a South African company, the country was demarcated into seven blocks.
He said the results also indicate that the southeast region under Block 1, covering the districts of Jinja, Busia, Iganga, Kamuli, Tororo and Bugiri has gold, lead, zinc and copper. Under Block 5, which covers the West Nile region, the survey also discovered potentials of gold.
Block 4 in Acholi region also possesses gold. Block 6 covers central Uganda and areas of Lake Kyoga, Soroti and Masindi.
He said data could be accessed by prospective investors. He said the remaining preliminary data for blocks 2, 3 and 4, was awaiting final interpretation and would be released in two months.
Tuhumwire said 80 percent of the country had been surveyed except the areas covered by national parks, water bodies, densely populated areas of Kampala and Jinja as well as Karamoja region.
He said the Karamoja region had not been covered under the mapping exercise for security reasons; but the region has potential for gold as well as platinum. He said the region would be covered after it is pacified.
Energy minister Daudi Migereko said: “This is a major development in the country’s mining sector. With the release of the results, we welcome investors to tap these minerals by way of mining, processing and value-addition in order to create jobs and transform our economy.â€
He said the Government had formulated laws to regulate and stimulate development in the mining sector.
and Ibrahim Kasita
A new report on Uganda’s mineral resources indicates that the south- western region has the highest potential in the country. Southwestern Uganda, under what is zoned as Block 7, is endowed with gold and diamond in Kigezi and in the Buhweju hills in Bushenyi district.
There is tin, wolfram and nickel in Kikagati. Other areas under Block 7 include Kasese with copper and cobalt, according to the report compiled following an airborne survey carried out since December 2006.
The data was released on Thursday to stakeholders in the mining industry at the energy ministry’s boardroom in Kampala.
The data will be used to identify prospective mining areas to attract investors, according to Joshua Tuhumwire, the commissioner for geological survey and mines.
Tuhumwire said during the survey undertaken by Fugro Airborne Surveys, a South African company, the country was demarcated into seven blocks.
He said the results also indicate that the southeast region under Block 1, covering the districts of Jinja, Busia, Iganga, Kamuli, Tororo and Bugiri has gold, lead, zinc and copper. Under Block 5, which covers the West Nile region, the survey also discovered potentials of gold.
Block 4 in Acholi region also possesses gold. Block 6 covers central Uganda and areas of Lake Kyoga, Soroti and Masindi.
He said data could be accessed by prospective investors. He said the remaining preliminary data for blocks 2, 3 and 4, was awaiting final interpretation and would be released in two months.
Tuhumwire said 80 percent of the country had been surveyed except the areas covered by national parks, water bodies, densely populated areas of Kampala and Jinja as well as Karamoja region.
He said the Karamoja region had not been covered under the mapping exercise for security reasons; but the region has potential for gold as well as platinum. He said the region would be covered after it is pacified.
Energy minister Daudi Migereko said: “This is a major development in the country’s mining sector. With the release of the results, we welcome investors to tap these minerals by way of mining, processing and value-addition in order to create jobs and transform our economy.â€
He said the Government had formulated laws to regulate and stimulate development in the mining sector.