President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially commissioned the Wagagai Gold Refinery in Busia District, marking a pivotal moment in Uganda’s drive toward value addition in the minerals sector.
The refinery, operated by Chinese-owned Wagagai Mining Company, has been lauded for its capacity to refine gold up to 99.99% purity, eliminating the need to export unprocessed minerals and ensuring more revenue remains within the country.
“I want to thank Wagagai for listening to my message from the beginning and fully processing the gold. Uganda will earn more money — not lose it to other countries,” the President said during the commissioning ceremony.
President Museveni sharply criticized the long-standing practice of exporting unprocessed minerals, calling it an economic betrayal.
“When you export unprocessed minerals, you are cheating Uganda,” he stated. “We must now transition into a fully value-added minerals economy.”
He called on artisanal and small-scale miners across the country to partner with licensed refiners like Wagagai, enabling their gold to be refined locally and sold at competitive international prices.
The President emphasized that income from Uganda’s non-renewable resources — including gold, lithium, tin, and oil — must be directed into building permanent national infrastructure, such as power stations and the Standard Gauge Railway.
“This mineral money must give us permanent and durable assets. Value addition creates jobs, increases electricity consumption, and brings higher returns in Ugandan shillings,” he explained.
Museveni stressed that full beneficiation (processing of minerals to final products) is essential not only for economic growth but for sustainable national development.
The Ambassador of China to Uganda, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, also attended the event and hailed the project as a symbol of China–Uganda economic cooperation.
“This refinery reflects not only our growing friendship but also the strength of Uganda’s investment climate,” Ambassador Zhang noted. He applauded Uganda for maintaining political stability and policy consistency that continues to attract international investors.
Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to mineral value addition, describing the Wagagai refinery as a model for future mining investments.
“This project aligns with our goal to create jobs, increase exports, and stimulate local industries like jewellery and electronics,” she said.
Wagagai’s refinery is expected to employ hundreds directly and support thousands indirectly through supply chains, local sourcing, and artisanal partnerships.
Museveni likened Wagagai to a “residential teacher,” praising the company for leading by example and encouraging others in the sector to adopt international best practices in local processing.
He concluded his remarks by urging Ugandans to embrace this new era of responsible resource utilization, reminding citizens that every generation has its time.
“Now is the time to wake up in the minerals sector. The potential is enormous, but it must benefit Uganda first,” the President said.
