Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned the Wagagai Gold Mining Project in Busia District, hailing it as a landmark step in Uganda’s drive to add value to its natural resources.
The state-of-the-art facility integrates exploration, mining, beneficiation, refining, and sales, with the capacity to produce gold refined to 99.99% purity. Once fully operational, the project is expected to create over 5,000 jobs and generate more than $100 million annually for the next 21 years.
Speaking at the commissioning, President Museveni reiterated his government’s position against the export of unprocessed minerals, emphasizing that such practices undermine Uganda’s economy.
“Under my leadership, we will not export unprocessed minerals. We must add value here in Uganda to create jobs and drive industrialization. Gold, lithium, iron, tea—our resources must benefit Ugandans directly,” the President said.
He urged other mining companies to adopt a similar approach, stressing that processing minerals locally would ensure financial gains, skills transfer, and economic transformation.
The project is a joint venture with Chinese investors, and the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, congratulated the country on what he called a “social and economic achievement.”
He encouraged Chinese enterprises in Uganda to actively fulfill their social responsibilities while supporting local development.
The Wagagai project has been under development for several years and is now positioned as one of the most advanced gold refining facilities in the region.
Beyond revenue, it is expected to strengthen Uganda’s mineral industry, support industrial growth, and reduce dependency on raw mineral exports.
President Museveni congratulated the investors, noting that the project aligns with Uganda’s broader vision of sustainable industrialization and economic self-reliance.
