The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Vice President Retired Maj. Jessica Alupo has tasked the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to find an investor for Kilembe mines.
Kilembe mines was a major source of revenue for Uganda in the 1960’s through 1970’s, but got a setback in 1977 when Idi Amin Dada, the then president of Uganda, ordered Canadians who were the investors to leave the mines in the hands of Ugandans.
Amin’s nationalisation policy was also followed by a steep fall in the global prices of copper ore, hence leading to the closure of the mines in 1978.
In 2013, the government offered a 25-year concession to Tibet Hima Mining Company Limited to revamp the mines. But the concession was cancelled by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in 2017, on grounds that Tibet Hima had failed to execute its mandate as prescribed in the concession.
Alupo who was in Kasese on Wednesday to tour the mines and Mubuku power station said that if an investor is found, it will control wastage of resources. She added that letting the mines waste away denies Uganda a lot of revenue but also slows down the progress of Kasese district.
Alupo said the government will also invest more resources in reconstructing roads and bridges in the district that were destroyed by floods last year.
The State Minister for Minerals, Peter Lokris said revamping the mines will open up thousands of jobs.
The manager Kilembe mines, Fred Kyakonye Welaga says that the new investor will be required to put in place flood control measures to protect the mines when River Nyamwmaba and Mubuku floods.
According to Welaga, several tonnes of cobalt left behind following the closure of Kilembe mines in Kasese district are wasting away as they are eroded by running water.
The LCV chairperson Eliphazi Bukombi Muhindi welcomed the minister’s directive saying that the mines had greatly contributed to the urbanization of the district.
In 2019, Irene Muloni, the former Minister of Energy and Mineral Development said that the investor that will be awarded the exploration license for Kilembe mines will be required to carry out new explorations to see if more reserves of copper can be mined.
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