The initiative will provide the critical training and equipment necessary to turn informal mining operations into professional, sustainable enterprises that contribute directly to Uganda’s GDP
The Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals (UCEM) has unveiled the Training, Equipping, and Nurturing to Thrive (TENT) grant initiative, an ambitious partnership with GIZ Uganda aimed at bringing Uganda’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector into the formal fold.
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), the initiative will provide the critical training and equipment necessary to turn informal mining operations into professional, sustainable enterprises that contribute directly to Uganda’s GDP.
The TENT Grant is a 12-month endeavor running from November 2025 to October 2026. This strategic grant is a key component of the broader “Sustainable Development of the Mining Industry in Uganda” program, which is jointly funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Government and implemented by GIZ.
Awarded to and overseen by UCEM, the grant supports activities across five regions and ten strategic districts: Mubende, Kasanda, Terego, Moroto, Kisoro, Ntungamo, Buhweju, Rubanda, Busia, and Namayingo. By focusing on high-value mineral value chains, including gold, tin, tungsten, and iron ore, the TENT Grant provides the resources necessary to transition informal mining operations into professional, sustainable enterprises.
The launch highlighted four strategic implementation pillars designed to transform the ASM sector:
- Formalization and compliance through the transition of 20 ASM groups into legally registered cooperatives aligned with taxation, environmental, and safety regulations.
- Policy engagement and knowledge development through strengthened collaboration between academia, industry, and government, including policy dialogues and research outputs.
- Enhanced market access and bankability by linking ASM cooperatives to formal markets, strategic buyers, and traceable mineral value chains for gold, 3Ts, and iron ore.
- Institutional sustainability through a feasibility study on the establishment of a National Umbrella ASM Cooperative Union to serve as a central coordinating platform for the sector.
Uganda’s ASM sector currently contributes over 90 percent of the country’s mineral production and supports approximately
200,000 livelihoods, with women comprising nearly half of the workforce. However, less than 20 percent of operators are formally licensed, limiting access to finance, exposing miners to exploitation, and weakening compliance with environmental, legal, and safety standards.
The TENT grant initiative seeks to address these challenges by transitioning targeted ASM groups into structured, compliant, and commercially viable enterprises. By 2030, the initiative aims to formalize up to 100,000 artisanal miners and establish 50 model cooperative enterprises, contributing to an increase in the sector’s GDP contribution from an estimated 0.5 percent to over 3 percent within five years.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Ashaba Aggrey, Chairperson of the UCEM Governing Council, underscored the importance of formalization in driving responsible mining practices:
“Formalization closes the ESG gaps that have long characterized the ASM sector, transforming informal operations into transparent, accountable, and investable value chains that protect both communities and the environment.”
“Integrating artisanal miners into a structured and regulated framework is both an economic and regulatory priority, ensuring that the benefits of the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022 are realized at the grassroots level.”
The Chairperson of the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) emphasized the role of collaboration:
“Sustainable mining development requires coordinated action. This platform brings together government, industry, and civil society to drive evidence-based policy and ensure inclusive growth across the sector.”
A representative from the European Union, the Deputy Head of Delegation, Guillaume Chartrain added:
“Supporting the formalization of artisanal mining reflects our commitment to inclusive development, transparency, and shared prosperity in Uganda’s extractives sector.”
With the TENT grant initiative now underway, stakeholders anticipate a transformative shift in how Uganda’s mineral resources are managed, unlocking responsible investment, strengthening governance, and positioning the country as a regional leader in sustainable and inclusive mining.
