![[Uganda] $15million project seeks to upscale operations of small scale miners](Mining Uganda.jpg)
[Uganda] $15million project seeks to upscale operations of small scale miners
Uganda’s low grade minerals are headed for better days following a three year $15 million project meant to upscale the operations of small scale miners and communities operating in low value minerals.
The programme, a partnership between the European Union and African Caribbean Partner is also meant to develop national capacity to better manage mineral resources and process them locally, to enable them to channel their mineral wealth into reducing poverty, creating employment and increasing investments in infrastructure development for enhanced service delivery according to a statement from the EU.
The programme is currently being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims at improving the profile of the low grade minerals in Uganda.
Ms Michelle Labeeu, the EU head of cooperation ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, said the initiative aims at supporting small-scale miners, public institutions and communities operating in the low value minerals and materials sector, such as construction materials (notably gravel, sand, clay), dimension stones (marble), industrial minerals (cement, scrap metals) and low-grade metals, minerals and precious stones (such as gold and gemstone).
Ms Almaz Gebru, the UNDP country director, said the construction industry contributes more than 12 per cent of Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product and conservative estimates indicate that more than one million people in the country are engaged in the sector, with women making up more than 25 per cent of the work force.
Despite its income generation potential, the neglected development minerals subsector often remains under-utilised paltry due to the uncertain legal and regulatory framework in which the sector operates and lack of public access to geological data.
Mr Lacina Pacoun, a minerals specialist, says the implementation of the activities would be left to national stakeholders because the programme was designed to give more flexibility for self-determined implementation on country level activities.
“Some of the activities will include geo data mapping and digitisation making sure the most viable reserves of the low grade minerals are known and accessible to sector stakeholders and local investors which will promote business in a different way which can make the sector count,” he said.
Under the programme, they will also carry out sector assessment study to determine the current situation of the mineral so that stakeholders can decide way forward for Uganda.
They will also work with small scale artisanal miners to assist them with entrepreneurship skills that will allow them to understand and sell their products to the niche market.
A 2013 World Bank report indicates that artisanal miners on average earn $7 per day, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the mining sector contributes 0.04 per cent to Uganda’s GDP.
