Supporting Implementation of the Mining Policy Framework in Member States of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development Uganda: Assessment of implementation readiness

The growing demand for non-renewable mineral resources is among the world’s greatest sustainability challenges.

But for many countries it can also present a significant opportunity for growth and development. While grappling with the important question of how to meet the resource needs of a growing population in a way that takes into consideration the needs of future generations, it is easy to overlook the role that mining and its benefits can play in a nation’s long-term social and economic development; with mining can come employment and skill development, investments in education, the construction of infrastructure, and the generation of much-needed revenue. The presence of a strong legal and policy framework is needed to maximize these benefits, a framework that promotes the development benefits of mining while upholding strong environmental and social standards. The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) is working to advance such policies and good governance practices through its Mining Policy Framework (MPF).

With support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is working with selected member states of the IGF to help them operationalize practices consistent with the MPF. As a first step, IISD conducted an assessment of national law, policy and administrative frameworks for mining and minerals development and management in three IGF member states relative to the six themes of the MPF. The assessments measure the readiness of the member states to implement the MPF through these existing government measures. This report presents the assessment for Uganda, with a view to: helping the government target their efforts in implementing the MPF; informing capacity-building efforts; and allowing for monitoring of progress over time.