NYAMUTORO CLOSES MINERAL WEALTH CONFERENCE WITH CALL FOR ACTION
Wagagai crowned Mining Company of the Year as Uganda pushes value addition, investment and responsible mining
KAMPALA — State Minister for Mineral Development Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro has called for action beyond conference resolutions as she closed the 15th Annual Mineral Wealth Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The two-day conference, held on September 29–30, 2026, brought together government officials, mining companies, investors, financiers, development partners and technology players under the theme “Beneath the Surface: Unlocking Africa’s Next Mining Powerhouse.”
Closing the conference, Nyamutoro said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development would strengthen its involvement in the annual conference and ensure that commitments made during the event translate into action.
She said the ministry would also review existing mining licences and improve transparency in the licensing process to strengthen investor confidence.
“Conferences can only earn their credibility from what happens in the 12 months after they close,” Nyamutoro said.
She further highlighted the need to improve mineral licensing, access to financing, formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, environmental compliance, geological data, analytical laboratories and local participation across the mineral value chain.
VALUE ADDITION TAKES CENTRE STAGE
Throughout the two days, one of the strongest messages was Uganda’s need to move away from exporting raw minerals and instead invest in processing, refining, beneficiation and manufacturing.
Nyamutoro has previously said Uganda must move from simply identifying what lies beneath its soil to using those resources to create greater economic value at home.
Participants also discussed critical minerals, mining finance, technology, environmental protection, responsible mining and opportunities for Ugandan businesses.
WAGAGAI TAKES TOP HONOUR
The conference closed with awards recognising companies contributing to Uganda’s mining sector.
Wagagai Mining Company Uganda Ltd was crowned Mining Company of the Year, while Sinno Mineral Investment Co. Ltd was runner-up.
Wagagai also finished runner-up in the Workplace Health and Safety and Responsible Mining and Environmental Stewardship categories.
Other winners included Namekara Mining Company Ltd for Workplace Health and Safety, H5 Resources Ltd for Responsible Mining and Environmental Stewardship, Tembo Steels for Innovation and Value Addition, and Yaobai Cement for Community Impact and Local Content.
FROM TALK TO ACTION
The conference also featured exhibitions, business-to-business engagements and a Deals Room connecting mining projects with potential investors and financiers. More than 1,000 delegates from 30 countries participated, with 81 companies exhibiting, according to the conference closing report.
The programme now moves beyond Munyonyo, with an Eastern Uganda mining excursion running October 1–3, giving participants an opportunity to visit selected mineral projects.
As Uganda seeks to increase the contribution of mining to the economy, the message from the closing ceremony was clear: the success of the conference will ultimately be measured not by the speeches delivered, but by the investments, jobs, processing facilities and value chains created after it.
End.
