The Deputy Speaker noted that the mining sector in Uganda has the capacity to unlock the potential of the country especially with the country's target of achieving an economy of USD 500 billion, if utilized transparently.
In May 2024, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed the Energy and Mineral Development Ministry to close the mine to allow a formalization tour of mining activities in the area.
However, there have been concerns about some individuals who sneaked into the gold site for mining despite the security deployment. Following the claims, the UPDF 5th Infantry Division has beefed up deployment to keep it out of bounds to avoid illegal mining.
The Energy Ministry has partnered with several organizations, including Planet Gold, Impact, and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), to gazette mining areas and license the miners. Artisanal miners are encouraged to form groups and apply for Artisan and Small-scale mining licenses at a fee of 1 million shillings.
In Bukeeka Parish, Katikamu sub-county located in Luwero district residents resorted to mobilizing 700,000 shillings per household to extend power lines to their villages and homes.
Rwot David Onen Acana II, the Acholi Paramount chief says while part of the oil is in Acholi, it has not benefited from infrastructure like the "oil roads"
President Museveni, who was commissioning Uganda's first Tin refining factory, in 2015 issued a directive banning the exportation of unprocessed minerals because the country was losing value and job opportunities.
The Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring Program is implemented under a cooperative arrangement between the Uganda National Bureau of Standards - UNBS and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to control and monitor the quality of petroleum products in Uganda’s entire supply chain.
The Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development Okaasai Opolot, says the shift to electric vehicles that has been championed by Kiira Motors has proved beyond doubt that it is cheaper to use electric vehicles than fuel-based ones.
Tayebwa issued a seven-day ultimatum during plenary on Thursday requiring the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to report back their findings to the House in a bid to compel the Government to devise a lasting solution to address the persistent irregular electricity supply.
The MPs on the Committee had convened the meeting on Wednesday, 20 July 2022 to find out steps being taken to end the fuel crisis and also to establish the support given to the Uganda National Oil Company – UNOC to support the national oil reserves to avert the fuel crisis.
Peter Muliisa, the UNOC’s Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer revealed to Uganda Radio Network - URN that KST is ‘not yet constructed’ and the search for a partner to develop it is still on.
Ismail Tobasiima, the Marketing Officer at Stabex International Ltd disclosed that recent research they conducted prior to the project revealed that the 13kg gas cylinder can last three months for an average family with four members.
Busujju County MP David Lukyamuzi raised the matter in Parliament on Thursday, saying that the government contracted Tisan Company in 2019, to supply and distribute electricity in Kitongo parish. Mityana District. He, however, added that the project was abandoned after covering only 50 per cent of the planned area.
Emmanuel Otaala, the Committee Chairperson demanded that Company provides a comprehensive report regarding payment of 28 billion to persons affected by the construction of the 132KV power line on Namanve-Luzira land.
Mehmet Ceyhan, the Mission Team Leader said they reviewed 19 nuclear infrastructure issues to assess Uganda’s readiness towards construction and operation of the first nuclear power plant that includes legal and regulatory frameworks, management, nuclear security and safety. Others are procurement, site and supporting facilities, funding and financing, human resource development, electrical grid, emergency planning, radiation protection, nuclear fuel cycle, and radiative waste.
The procurement of the weighbridges follows several calls from different stakeholders over the absence of proper measures to determine taxes from the minerals and also to help control the load on the trucks to protect roads from damage.
