The Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP) will host the sixth annual Mineral Wealth Conference (MWC) from October 4-5, 2017.
Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, this year’s conference will be held under the theme ‘Minerals – Knocking on the door to cause economic transformation in Uganda’.
The annual MWC is East Africa’s flagship mining convention; playing a significant role in highlighting the huge untapped mining potential of Uganda and the region.
To be held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, the forum will also include an exhibition on the sidelines , and a diverse mix of delegates is expected to attend led by mining stakeholders, drawn from the private and public spheres, development partners, financial institutions, insurers, academicians, lawyers, logisticians, energy and construction companies among others.
The conference to be held at the Serena Hotel, will attract expert speakers and over 450 delegates from across the globe including South Africa, West Africa, the USA, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
“In previous forums, our focus was mainly on showcasing Uganda’s mineral potential, advocating for value addition and attracting exploration investment. This was all geared towards creating a conducive and favorable environment in the mining sector,” says Dr Elly Karuhanga, the Chairman, UCMP.
Karuhanga added: “We feel the time is now for Uganda to start earning significant revenues from its natural resources. Fortunately, our patron President Yoweri Museveni, who has always advocated for the addition of value to our minerals, will be in attendance to lend his significant weight to this drive.”
Mr. Robert Kasande, the new Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa, a senior presidential advisor on oil and gas and minerals and Mr Edwards Katto, the Director, Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines, will be among the speakers at the October conference.
The Mineral Wealth Conference (MWC) has become East Africa’s principal annual mining event. It plays a critical role in creating opportunities for Uganda’s domestic and international mining interests.
Launched in 2012 following a partnership between the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the MWC has become one of the most eagerly awaited events on Uganda and East Africa’s mining calendar.
The objective is to provide an opportunity for major mineral exploration and mining companies to not only invest in Uganda’s promising mining sector, but to also build joint venture partnerships with local players. It brings together key policy and decision makers, business leaders, bankers, academics and mining investors from all over the world.
Uganda enjoys a wealth of mineral deposits including gold, vermiculite, copper, graphite, iron ore, tin, tantalite, tungsten, nickel, platinum, graphite, limestone, phosphates, clays with rare earth elements among others.
Some of these resources, like the vermiculite in Eastern Uganda which competes favourably with South Africa’s in both quality and quantity, are world class deposits.
However, they have not been fully exploited mainly because extensive exploration countrywide has not happened yet.
A 2015 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report noted a 6.3 percent increase in the total value of selected minerals produced, growing from Shs158 billion in 2013 to Shs168 billion in 2014. These numbers though, are significantly low.
Industry watchers for instance believe that the right support can see Uganda easily become the world’s leading vermiculite producer within the next 5 to 10 years.
With the mining policy and laws undergoing a review to match the private sector needs, stakeholders are optimistic that this potential will soon be realised.
