Uganda’s Vice President, Her Excellency Jessica Alupo, has reaffirmed that the government under President Yoweri Museveni has for decades championed mineral value addition, a policy that culminated in the country’s ban on the export of raw minerals.
“We must emphasize that no African country will build durable prosperity by exporting raw ore. The future lies in beneficiation, smelting, refining, and manufacturing, directly aligned with AMSG’s core imperative of mineral value addition,” Alupo said.
She was speaking on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the 2nd Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Alupo applauded the leadership of the AMSG and commended co-conveners Nigeria, Kenya, and the AMSG Secretariat for elevating Africa’s mineral vision to the global stage.
She also saluted the efforts of AMSG Secretary General, His Excellency Moses Michael Engadu, for his role in uniting Africa’s mineral strategy.
The Vice President noted that Uganda is honoured to host the permanent AMSG Secretariat in Kampala, describing it as “a living symbol of Uganda’s deep commitment to Africa’s mineral future.”
Highlighting Uganda’s efforts, Alupo revealed that the government has undertaken a nationwide mineral exploration programme in partnership with Excalibur Smart Mapping, which has comprehensively mapped the country’s resources.
She emphasized that government-led exploration boosts investor confidence, reduces risks, and unlocks natural wealth.
Alupo urged all African states to commit to geological mapping and inventories, adding that frameworks such as the African Minerals and Energy Resources Classification (AMREC) and the Pan-African Public Reporting Code (PARC), endorsed by the African Union, are critical in ensuring resources are reported with global credibility under African ownership.
“Uganda strongly supports their implementation as continental tools for exploration, reporting, and investment attraction,” she stressed.
She further pledged Uganda’s readiness to lead by example in championing value addition through processing minerals before export, fostering regional collaboration, establishing beneficiation hubs and refineries, and driving partnerships with sovereign wealth funds, multilateral institutions, and the private sector.
Alupo also welcomed the anticipated outcomes of the roundtable, including a joint African declaration on mineral governance, accelerated adoption of AMREC and PARC, increased investment and partnership commitments, and the launch of innovative financing and traceability tools such as the Africa Mineral Token (AMT) and the Marine Blockchain platform to promote ethical sourcing and supply chain transparency.
Extending an invitation to investors, Alupo said: “Come to Uganda, where minerals are mapped, value addition is the law, and investor confidence is guaranteed.”
