Uganda Moves to Regulate Sand Mining with New Bill

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) is actively drafting a new piece of legislation aimed at bringing sand mining activities under a clear regulatory framework. According to Eng. Irene Bateebe, Permanent Secretary at MEMD, a review of the Constitution revealed that sand is not defined as a mineral but rather as a “building substance.”

To address this, the ministry is sponsoring the “Building Substances Bill,” which is expected to be presented to Cabinet before the end of September 2026. This Bill will outline the necessary arrangements for the enhanced regulation of sand as a crucial building material. Eng. Bateebe indicated that extensive consultations have been conducted, and the ministry anticipates that various stakeholders have had the opportunity to contribute to the Bill’s development.

This move comes in the wake of a recent government decision to temporarily suspend the granting of new mineral rights, licenses, and permits for a period of one month. This pause is intended to allow for a thorough assessment of existing licenses and to strengthen Uganda’s overall mineral licensing framework, with the goal of attracting more credible investment into the sector.

However, certain activities remain unaffected by the temporary deferral. These include mineral export permits for processed and value-added minerals, the renewal of existing licenses, and permissions for exporting mineral samples for testing purposes. The government is committed to ensuring that the mineral sector contributes effectively to its tenfold growth strategy, aiming to increase GDP significantly by 2040.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)