The Mubende United Miners Assembly (MUMA) has marked a historic milestone with the acquisition of a Small-Scale Mining License (SML 00575) from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), celebrated in a colorful event in Bukuya Town Council, Kassanda District.
The five-year license authorizes MUMA to conduct gold mining on 100.8 hectares in Bukuya. Originally issued on June 25, 2025, it is the fourth of eight small-scale mining licenses granted by the ministry to date.
The event brought together government officials, civil society partners, local leaders, and mining associations to recognize a turning point for Uganda’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector.
John Bosco Bukya, MUMA Chairman and leader of the Uganda Association of Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (UGAASM), hailed the license as a major achievement for miners nationwide. He recalled the hardships faced, including the August 2017 eviction of artisanal miners, which eventually led to better organization and recognition.
“This license signifies that artisanal miners are now recognized as legitimate contributors to Uganda’s mineral development,” Bukya said.
MUMA General Secretary Emmanuel Kibirige noted that the organization began as a social movement advocating miners’ rights before formalizing into a registered entity.
Representing the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Commissioner Agnes Alaba praised MUMA for meeting all legal, financial, and technical requirements under the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022. She highlighted the importance of ASM in employment—over 60% of Uganda’s mining workforce is engaged in small-scale mining—and emphasized the license’s role in supporting national growth under Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
The license also allows MUMA to participate in the Bank of Uganda’s Domestic Gold Purchase Program, ensuring licensed miners benefit directly from government-backed initiatives.
Local leaders, including Kassanda RDC Phoebe Namulindwa and Bukuya County MP Dr. Michael K. Bukenya, commended MUMA for setting a benchmark in organized and responsible mining, urging the integration of environmental and social responsibility alongside profitability.
Partners such as Solidaridad and The Impact Facility encouraged continued transformation, emphasizing capacity building, machinery access, and sustainability to ensure long-term sector growth.
The celebration in Bukuya highlighted the resilience and organizational progress of Uganda’s artisanal miners while reinforcing government and partner commitment to transforming the sector into a regulated and economically significant contributor to national development.
Commissioner Alaba stressed, “We want Ugandans to progress—from artisanal to mechanized, from small-scale to medium and then large-scale mining. This can only happen if we all work together.”
MUMA Chairman Bukya noted, “Many dismissed artisanal miners as incapable. But this license proves otherwise. We are just setting off—expect great things ahead.”
