Rubanda District Chairperson Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba has called for tighter regulation of mineral exploration and mining activities, improved local revenue collection and a review of revenue-sharing arrangements with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to enable the district to benefit more from its natural resources.
Kasyaba said stronger monitoring of mining activities and fairer revenue-sharing arrangements would boost the district’s revenue base and provide additional funding for infrastructure development and service delivery.
He made the remarks during the Rubanda District Local Government’s second council session for the 2026/2027 financial year, held at the District Council Hall on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The meeting, presided over by District Speaker Mary Waguma Tushemereirwe, brought together councillors to consider sectoral committee reports and discuss matters relating to service delivery and development.
Kasyaba expressed concern that some investors conducting mineral exploration and mining activities in the district allegedly operate without the required exploration licences.
He said he was working with the District Natural Resources Office to identify and register all investors involved in the activities to strengthen accountability, improve monitoring and increase local revenue collection.
However, he noted that the district faces challenges in identifying investors undertaking exploration because the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development does not routinely provide local authorities with information about licences issued within their jurisdictions.
Kasyaba also raised concerns that some investors allegedly use mineral exploration and sample collection as a cover for conducting actual mining activities.
He called for stronger oversight of exploration licences and proposed limiting their duration to one year, subject to the applicable legal and regulatory framework, to minimise possible abuse.
He added that the district lacks adequate capacity to enforce mining regulations, stop illegal extraction and establish the quantities of minerals transported out of the area.
Kasyaba called for closer coordination between the district and national authorities to improve supervision, ensure compliance with mining regulations and enable the local government to benefit from its mineral resources.
The chairperson also called for a review of revenue-sharing arrangements involving natural resources, particularly those linked to conservation activities around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
He argued that communities and local governments hosting natural resources should receive a fairer share of the revenue generated from them.
Kasyaba cited guidance he attributed to the Local Government Finance Commission, which he said provides for 20 per cent of revenue collected from natural resources to be returned to the district where the resources are located.
He said a review of the arrangements would strengthen the district’s financial position and enable it to invest more in infrastructure and essential public services.
Kasyaba also outlined infrastructure and service delivery projects planned for implementation or completion during the 2026/2027 financial year.
The projects include completing the district administration block, fencing the district fish hatchery, constructing a VIP latrine and staff housing, including accommodation at Hamurwa Health Centre IV.
Other planned interventions include extending the Bushura project, developing six protected springs and providing roofing materials to support infrastructure development.
He said several primary schools had also been approved to receive classroom blocks in the next financial year. They include Bukwata Primary School, Kerere Primary School, Bugarama, Kibaya and Toli primary schools.
Other schools are expected to benefit from five-stance VIP latrines and roofing materials to improve sanitation and learning conditions.
Kasyaba said the planned interventions were intended to improve public infrastructure and expand access to essential services across the district.
The chairperson also raised concern about illegal connections to district water supply systems, warning that unauthorised connections could reduce water availability and deny other communities reliable access to clean water.
He urged residents to work with the district water office and follow the established procedures when seeking connections to public water supply systems.
Kasyaba specifically encouraged households and other water users to obtain properly installed private water meters through the water office to promote accountability, monitor consumption and support fair distribution.
He called on communities to protect public water infrastructure and avoid illegal connections that undermine service delivery to other villages.
