Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister for Energy
Members of Parliament have protested the low rates of US$200 (UGX713,254) imposed on each kilogram of refined gold exported outside Uganda, saying this falls short of the minimum US$150,000 (UGX536,006,536) global market price of gold.
Richard Gafabusa, the Bwamba County MP, led the protest during a meeting held by Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on 19th February 2026, convened to consider the December 2025 Auditor General’s report for the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).
“One kilogramme of gold is going for now a minimum of 150,000 US dollars, but we are getting $200 out of it. One, what is the cost of one kilogram of unprocessed gold, raw gold? Two, what is the cost of processing that one kilogram of gold? And lastly, apart from the $200 we get from each kilogram of processed gold, what other benefit do we get from that gold?” Gafabusa remarked.
His remarks were in response to remarks made by Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister for Energy, who revealed that despite the fierce protest and disagreements between Government and gold miners at the inception of the US$200 gold levy, Uganda Revenue Authority managed to collect gold levy and now, revenue from gold surpassed that of coffee.
“Some of the refiners were complaining, they didn’t want to pay, others wanted to pay. Cabinet also discussed it, and when I appeared before Parliament that time, I remember I told the Speaker about the instructions I had from Cabinet, telling me not to levy. There are many reasons that were advanced, one of them I remember vividly coming from the President was that these people pay indirect tax when they come to Uganda to look for gold, they pay indirect taxes, they pay for electricity, but finally, we agreed on USD$200 per kilogram. And I think as I speak now, gold has surpassed the coffee. It has fetched us US$5.8Billion (UGX20.682Trn),” Minister Nankabirwa said.
Mpindi Bumali (PWD Representative) asked if Government has taken any steps to revoke licenses of gold refiners that are opposed to the levy noting, “For someone to pay just US$200 to this country every budget we are crying of money, no money, unfunded priority, unfunded priority when we are giving our money to individuals. Have you taken any step to invoke licenses of those who are not complying?”
However, Medard Sseggona, Chairperson COSASE questioned the rationale behind Cabinet’s initial decision to exempt gold miners from paying taxes under the guise that these investors pay indirect taxes when they come in, yet even the local women selling maize by the road side in Kyengera (Wakiso district) pay these indirect taxes.
“I am not doubting, I’m only questioning the wisdom in that. Because if you can tax coffee, you can tax cotton, you tax a woman selling gonja (plantain) and the maize in Kyengera market, how can someone say they are not paying when it comes to gold?” asked Sseggona.
