The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) through its mines department has embarked on a sensitization campaign for Mineral Markets and Buying Centres Regulations, 2026 aimed at establishing a structured, transparent, and efficient system for the formation of buying centres, licensing of mineral dealers, and the sale and disposal of minerals, piloting particularly with gold, tin, and gemstones.
The workshop, held from May 7th to 8th, 2026, at JLM Hotel, Busia, brought together Government Entities and Agencies, Mineral Dealers and Buyers, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Associations, Mining Companies, Processors and Refiners, Development Partners and Civil Society Organizations, Financial Institutions, Academia among others.
Agnes Alaba, the commissioner of mines reassured stakeholders that government aims to create a balanced operational environment where both miners and investors can thrive under a regulated and fair system.
She expressed government’s commitment to ensuring that the mining industry becomes more organized, transparent, secure and beneficial to all actors in the mineral value chain.
Alaba who represented the MEMD Permanent Secretary Eng. Irene. Bateebe said given the significant impact these regulations will have on the operations of mineral dealers, miners, processors, and exporters, the government is adopting a participatory and inclusive approach to their finalization.
The Minerals Police Commandant ACP Julius Caesar Tusingwire told stakeholders that government is committed to offering protection, emphasizing that security agencies are prepared to safeguard legitimate mineral business operations.
Assistant Commissioner Geoscience Grace Nassuna presented the proposed mineral market information systems and traceability mechanisms, while GIZ representative Henry Mukasa addressed regional compliance requirements under the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) framework.
The consultation is inclusive and targets a broad cross-section of stakeholders within the minerals sector, with a specific focus on dealers in gold, tin, and gemstones.
According to officials, the draft regulations is aimed at addressing a range of persistent challenges, that affects the sector including : Informal Trade for miners, resulting in exploitation by middlemen and inconsistent pricing mechanism, Lack of transparency making it difficult to track mineral production, ensure fair trade and curb illicit activities such as smuggling, tax evasion, and money laundering, and lost government revenue due to unregulated transactions and undervaluation of mineral exports.
Through these regulations, the government aims to: Establish mineral markets and buying centres, Prescribe the requirements for establishment of the mineral markets and buying Centres, Prescribe the operations of the mineral markets and buying centres.
These regulations are one of the tools to achieve organization, formalization and regulation of mineral trade for high value commodities.
This contributes to the Department and Ministry’s targets and the entire sector’s contribution to sustainable socio-economic development.
Given the significant impact these regulations will have on the operations of mineral dealers, miners, processors, and exporters, the government is adopting a participatory and inclusive approach to their finalization.
The Ministry kicked off a multi-stakeholder consultation to ensure that the regulations are practical, enforceable, and aligned with the realities of the mineral market, to foster ownership and compliance.
During the consultation, officials gather comprehensive, informed feedback from stakeholders to refine and validate the first draft of the Mining and Minerals (Mineral Markets and Buying Centres) Regulations, 2026, ensuring they are practical, effective, and supportive of a well-governed mineral sector as well as raise awareness on the mineral markets and buying centres.
