THE
MINING INDUSTRY IN UGANDA
2 OVERVIEW OF THE MINING INDUSTRY
3 DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY
4.3 AN OVERVIEW OF IMPORTANT MINERALS
OCCURRENCE
5 UGANDA’S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
6.1 STRATEGIC LOCATION AND FAVOURABLE
INVESTMENT CLIMATE
6.2 IMPROVED FISCAL INCENTIVES
7 REFERENCES AND SOURCES FOR FUTURE FURTHER INFORMATION
The mining industry in Uganda reached peak levels in
the 1950s and ‘60s when the sector accounted for up to 30% of Uganda’s export
earnings. However, political and economic instability experienced in the
country in the ‘70s led the sector to decline to its present level of
contributing only about 1% of the Growth Domestic Product (GDP). It is noted therefore
that the decline is not a result of resource depletion but is rather due to the
bad government policies of the past.
The decade after 1986 has been marked by a
favourable business climate in Uganda and a number of mining companies have
taken up licenses in the mining sector, the mining and quarrying industry is
now growing at the rate of about 11%.For example, in 1990 there were under 50
licenses issued in the exploration and mining license categories combined: by
the end of 2000 there was a total of 221 licenses including, 136 Exclusive Prospecting Licenses, 95
Location Licenses, and 15 Mining Leases. These licenses cover the entire
country but are generally concentrated in the more prospective areas in
southwest and southeast Uganda. This is due to the fact that because of thick
soils and deep weathering, parts of north central Uganda have limited
geological data. The Government is currently negotiating with the World Bank to
fund a systematic exploration program to cover the entire country. This should
open up more ground for exploration.
Nonetheless, current mineral production is still too
low to meet local industrial demand. Limestone mined for the production of
cement and lime is consumed largely in the local market. Aggregate, gravel and
small quantities of gold, tin and tungsten concentrates are currently produced
largely for export. There are many high mineral potential areas in Uganda,
which remain inadequately explored despite the country’s long history of
production.
Modern mining began in Uganda in the mid-1920s with
production of tin concentrates in south-west Uganda and expanded to include
asbestos, lithium, bismuth, copper, gold, gypsum, lead, iron ore, limestone,
sand, gravel, aggregate, building clays and silica sand. Both government and
the private sector have for a long time, carried out the development of mineral
resources. In order to revive and expand the sector, government has adopted
policies to:
· Promote the development and use of mineral resources in the
modernization of the country, to raise revenue and to earn foreign exchange;
· Encourage exploitation of minerals for local industrial
development;
· train and develop technical and managerial skills for the
sector;
· Maintain adequate government services and institutions for
the sector; and
· protect the environment
The implementation of the above policies has
resulted into an increase in mineral production and mineral exports. This has
provided a significant contribution to foreign exchange reserves as well as
revenue accruing from royalty. For instance the royalties paid were USh. 21.3
million in 1995; USh 36.1 million in 1996; USh 64.3 million in 1997,Ush.10,
421,137 in 1999,Ush.609, 229,220 in 2000.The value of mineral exports shows an
increase from US $ 50 million in 1995 to US $ 53.4 million in 1996, US $ 81.3
million in 1997 and U$120milion.in 2000. Table 1 below shows the trends in
mineral production.
Table 1: Mineral
production statistics 1990 - 2000
|
Mineral |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1996 |
|
Gold (grams) |
7523 |
1327 |
679 |
291.4 |
1627 |
1506.6 |
3000 |
6400 |
|
Tin Ore (tons) |
31.2 |
1.70 |
1.76 |
2.67 |
2.56 |
4.29 |
0.38 |
1.81 |
|
Wolfram (tons) |
48 |
30.36 |
15.83 |
5.00 |
11.64 |
17.31 |
Nil |
1.76 |
|
Tantalite/ Columbite (t) |
Nil |
0.055 |
0.035 |
0.452 |
0.435 |
1.824 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Limestone (tons) |
385.0 |
2623 |
99.6 |
10025 |
163 |
209512 |
159479 |
919353 |
|
Gypsum (tons) |
43 |
807 |
396.1 |
308.4 |
201.7 |
5467 |
2281 |
Nil |
|
Phosphate (tons) |
25.0 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Iron Ore (tons) |
Nil |
86.71 |
32.85 |
Nil |
Nil |
7.0 |
200 |
2432 |
Source: Department of Geological Survey and Mines
“Nil” - means no returns have
been received by the Department of Geological Survey and Mines
MINERAL OCCURRENCES
OF UGANDA
Although Uganda’s mineral potential is largely
untested due to the very limited exploration to date, it is endowed with a wide
variety of minerals (Figure 1 Map of Location of Minerals in Uganda).
The history of copper mining dates back to 1956 when
Faconbridge of Canada operated at Kilembe Mine until 1974 when the Government
of Uganda took over its ownership. The production of blister copper, which had
been as high as 16,000 tons per year by the late 1960s, declined in the
1970s(14,000 tpy in 1972) and reached a low level of 2,000 tons in 1979, until
production subsequently ceased. The reserves were originally estimated to be
12.7 million tonnes (Mt) of which 7.2 Mt averaged 2% copper and 0.2% cobalt. At
the time of the mines closure, 16.3 Mt had been mines. Significant resources of
insitu chalcopyrite cobaltiferous pyrite and pyrrhotite mineralization remain,
(4.12 Mt at 1.77% Cu in measured and indicated categories; 1.85 Mt at 1.46% Cu
in inferred category plus 0.65 Mt of supergene mineralization. In addition,
there is potential for discovering further deposits, along the 90 kilometres
belt of Kilembe series rocks. The Kilembe area remains attractive not only as a
copper producer but also as a cobalt supplier. At present, Mine will soon be
open to other investors through the Privatisation Unit. Anglovaal Minerals
(Avmin) of South Africa in a joint venture with Pacific Vangold of Canada are
undertaking a major exploration programme for copper and cobalt mineralization
north-east of Kilembe.
When Kilembe Mine was in operation, cobalt was not
recovered because of its low price at that time. However, approximately 1 Mt of
cobaltiferous concentrate was stockpiled at Kasese near the Mine. The stockpile
at Kasese averages 1.37% cobalt and 0.4% nickel. In addition, there exist 10 Mt
of tailings at an average grade of 0.1% Co. Kasese Cobalt Company Ltd. (a joint
venture between Lasource and Kilembe Mines Ltd.) has constructed a 1,000 tons
per year bioleach extraction plant at Kasese to process the stockpile.
Production started in April 1999. The project invested US $ 135 million and is
the largest project so far undertaken in the mineral industry in Uganda.A 10 MW
hydro-electricity power plant was also constructed on River Mobuku, near
Kasese. The cobalt plant will be producing about 1,000 tons of cobalt
concentrate per year for a period of 12 -15 years period.
Gold is widely distributed in Uganda but has been
exploited on a small scale (largely by artisanal miners) in a few areas near
Busia in the east, Buhweju and Kigezi in the south-west, Mubende in the central
and more recently Karamoja in the north-east. The bulk of all gold in Uganda
has been mined from small but rich alluvial deposits around the Buhweju plateau
which is a large Proterozoic basin of approximately 2000 km2 in area
and with a potential to host gold-bearing sedimentary horizons and epithermal
mineralization along the rift margin. Government recorded over 200,000 ounces
of gold production between 1933 and 1995.
The Kigezi gold-field in the extreme south-west is
recognized as a Proterozoic magnetic arc terrain and forms part of the larger
Kivu gold-tin-tantalum mineral province of which the Twangiza gold deposit in
the Democratic Republic of Congo is the main deposit. Gold production came from
small widely scattered alluvials, which in addition commonly carry cassiterite,
Wolframite, bismutite, Zircon, monazite, chalcopyrite and rutile.
The Busia gold-field continues in Kenya and Tanzania
to become the Kavirondo gold-field and the Lake Victoria gold-field
respectively. Gold was discovered near Busia in 1932 and since then, both vein
and alluvial prospects have been mined sporadically. the majority of the total production
of 1.5 tons of gold came from Tiira and Amonikakine mines between 1937 and
1952.
Quartz stringers occur in schists of the Buganda
series and carry gold in the Kamalenge area near Mubende. Gold is also found in
the saprolite zone of weathering above bedrock. Primary Mineralization is
contained within the shear zone related quartz veinlet stockworks, which are
heavily oxidized.
Although gold was first reported in gravels of River
Kalere near Kaabong in Karamoja in 1960, significant artisanal mining works
were only reported in 1983 covering a wide area near Alelek south-west of
Kotido, Rupa north of Moroto and Lopedo east of Kaabong. The various prospects
are generally “gold-in-shear” type, which is prevalent in Precambrian terrain.
Other known gold occurrences have been noted in the River Kafu basin south of
Hoima, and River Nyagak near Nebbi where traces of alluvial gold were found.
The future of gold mining in Uganda depends on
systematic exploration in the known and other potential areas. Currently a
number of companies are involved in the exploration of gold. Notable among
these are Branch Energy (U) Limited, which was until recently operating in
northern Karamoja; Roraima Mining Company operating in Busia and Bugiri areas
as well as in Buhweju in the south-west; Glencar Explorations Plc in the south;
and Cluff Mining Ltd. in the Kigezi gold-field,Busitema Mining Company in the
Tiira area. The liberalization of the gold trade in 1991 has borne fruit; with
exports rising from zero in 1990 to 5.067 in 1996 to , 6.8 tons in 1997 and 20
tons in 1999, 30 tons in 2000.
Tin was mined on a small scale in south-western
Uganda since 1926. The Industry has remained small with a maximum-recorded
production of 584 tons of concentrate in 1936. Mwirasandu, the largest tin mine
produced 3,300 tonnes of cassiterite between 1926 and 195. Currently, tin
mining in the country is limited to small-scale operators who have limited
expertise and lack capital investment. The demand for tin in Uganda and the
east African region is low as there are no major consuming industries in the
region. Ugandan tin concentrates are high grade (68-72% SnO2) and
contain low levels of impurity requiring simple technology.
Tungsten is used in the manufacture of alloys,
armour plates, electric filaments and high-speed tools. There are at least
seven small scale-scale wolfram mines in Kabale and Kisoro districts and one
small one in Buyaga in Rakai District but those with the best potential to
produce large tonnage are Bjordal and Kirwa mines. Bjordal mine was opened in
1947 and produced 2,000 tonnes of concentrates by 1983 when it closed. The mine
has an estimated reserve of 10 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.5% WO3.
Kirwa mines started operations in the 1940s and closed in 1979 due to breakdown
of machinery. At the time of its closure, Kirwa mines had proven reserves of
750,000 tonnes of ore grading at 0.15% WO3 and 500,000 tonnes of
probable reserves grading at 0.25% WO3. Artisanal miners are currently
in production. The revival of commercial wolfram mining in this region is worth
exploring.
Uganda was producing about 10% of the world’s total
production of beryllium during the 1960s. Production stopped in 1976 due to the
decline in world market prices. Beryllium is associated with pegmatites, found
mainly in Ntungamo, Bushenyi and Rukungiri districts in western Uganda, but
also at Mbale Estate in Mubende, Nampewo and Lunya in Mukono district. The
pegmatites consist of microline, albite, quartz and muscovite, with minor
quantities of apatite, columbite, tantalite, cassiterite, manganite, lithium
minerals and tourmaline. The pegmatites in the south-west are invariably
kaolinised, thus facilitating low cost mining. No evaluation has been carried
out to date, although limited production (1944-1976 = 6,224.7 tons) came mainly
from Mutaka, Kazumu, Bulema and Ishasha. The deposits at Ishasha have the
largest potential. The tailings at Mwirasandu tin deposit contain beryl.
Columbite-tantalite(+microlite) occurs in
pegmatites, mainly in south-west Uganda and which are associated with beryl
mineralisation were extracted in small quantities in the past. Total production
of columbite-tantalum concentrates from 1936 - 1992 totalled 304.5 tons and
from the late 1950s these metals were recovered only as by-products from beryl
mining.
Pyrochlore is potentially the most important niobium
mineral in Uganda. It occurs in carbonatites at Sukulu and Bukusu in the east,
and at Napak and Toror in Karamoja. Sukulu is potentially the most important
pyrochlore deposit, associated with apatite, magnetite, zircon and barite in
residual soils over the carbonate. Total resources in three valleys are
reported over 230 Mt, of which 130 Mt average 0.2% Nb2O5.
The most important known deposits are the hematite
deposits of Muko in Kabale and Kisoro districts and the magnetite deposits at
Sukulu and Bukusu in Tororo and Mbale districts respectively. Other known areas
are Murambo, Hamurwa and Kabale areas.The Hematite (itabirite)ore at Mukohas a
high iron ore content(90-98%Fe2o3);it contains negligable phosphorous and
sulphur and <0.05%Tio2.Based on surface showings it has been estimated that
these deposits contain about 4 Mtons of resources.The Sukulu deposits are
estimated to contain 45 Mt of ore averaging 62% iron and 2.6% phosphorous.
Reserves at Bukusu are estimated at 23 Mt of iron ore with high titunium
content of 10 - 15%. The Government is keen to exploit these iron ore resources
and is seeking for investors in the project. Additional information is
available in the “Iron and Steel Industry
Profile”.
Current production of iron ore at Muko is limited to
small quantities handpicked from float material, and supplied to Hima (1994)
Ltd. cement factory for the manufacture of special cement. In the early 1970s,
iron ore was used by the East African Steel Corporation at Jinja in Eastern
Uganda, as a sweetener to the metal scrap in the melting process.Some iron ore is
also supplied to the Steel Rolling Mills at Jinja where it is used to sweeten
the scrap.
Limestone is a major raw material in the manufacture
of Portland cement and lime in Uganda. Limestone is also used in refractories,
paper mills, concrete, sugar works, animal feeds, etc. Deposits are found at
Muhokya, Bwera, Hima(Kasese District ,25Mt of limestone), Dura (Kabarole
District ,5Mt of limestone) Kaku (Kisoro District ,5Mt of limestone), Sukulu
Hills-Tororo, 75Mt) Bududa (Mbale District) and Moroto. The major limestone
deposits are those at Hima in the west, which are sedimentary in origin and the
Tororo and Sukulu deposits in south-east Uganda which are igneous (carbonatite
in origin. Two cement plants are currently in production at each of these
deposits. The Hima plant has an installed capacity of 900 tons per day with two
significant production lines. Since its divestiture in 1994, the plant has
undergone significant rehabilitation. The plant currently produces 600 tons per
day, and has a targeted daily production of 1,500 tons on completion. The
Tororo plant built in 1953 to produce 150 tons per day, was divested in 1996.
The plant is undergoing major rehabilitation aimed at producing 1000 tons per
day by the year 2002. Current production of cement by this plant is
supplemented by importation of clinker while the rehabilitation programme takes
place.
The limestone (marbles) resources at Moroto are
significant but preliminary results indicate high magnesium content. Systematic
exploration may identify sufficient suitable raw material for cement
production. The other limestone deposits such as at Bududa in Mbale, Dura in
Kabarole and Muhokya in Kasese districts are small and can only support small
cement plants or be quarried and transported to the nearby operational plants
at Tororo for Bududa and at Hima for Dura and Muhokya deposits.
Phosphates are a major raw material for the
manufacture of phosphate fertilizers used in agriculture. Deposits in Uganda
are associated with the carbonatite ring complexes found in eastern Uganda
mainly at Sukulu and Bukusu. Reserves of apatite-pyrochlore in form of residual
soils are proven to be in excess of 230 Mt, with an average grade of 13% P2O5
in three valleys at Sukulu which is a world-class deposit. The apatite
component is rich and can yield 40 - 42% P2O5, Tororo
Industrial Chemicals and Fertilizers (TICAF) which was established in 1963
produced 25,000 tonnes per annum of single super phosphate (SSP) until
operations ceased in 1978.The phosphates at Busumbu were mined from 1945 to
1963, and exported in semi-processed form to Kenya, where they were mixed with
soda ash to produce a soluble fertilizer. Production stopped when TICAF started
operations in Tororo. A Canadian company Canmin Resources has been licensed to
operate in the area.
Uganda government has been keen to revive fertilizer
production and in 1983 commissioned a feasibility study for a triple super
phosphate (TSP) fertilizer plant. The Department of Geological Survey and Mines
is currently zoning the area into designated areas for limestone, phosphates
and other chemicals. A joint venture between Madhvani International South
Africa and Foskor South Africa are presently evaluating the prospect. The
project is open to interested strategic investors and is earmarked for export
to all the COMESA countries.
Lake Katwe is the largest of several shallow saline
crater lakes situated in the western rift valley, north of Lake Edward. The
salt reserves comprise salts in solution in interstitial brines within pore of
the solid crust. A programme of drilling and pitting into the salt crusts below
the lake outlined reserves of 22 Mt of mixed salts made up of the following:
sodium chloride NaCl, 2 Mt; sodium sulphate Na2SO4, 2 Mt;
sodium carbonate NaCO3, 17.7 Mt; potassium sulphate K2SO4,
0.6 Mt; and potassium bromide Kbr, 0.01 Mt.
A plant set up by the Lake Katwe Salt Company and
commissioned in 1980 to produce sodium chloride for human consumption failed to
operate due to technical errors in the plant design. Plans exist to modify the
plant to produce 50,000 tons of salt per year for domestic consumption and the
company is to undergoing divestiture. A feasibility study to appraise the
project funded by the African Development Bank was completed in June 1997, and
recommended the setting up of a new plant at a cost of US $ 34 million.
Clay deposits suitable for the manufacture of
bricks, roofing tiles, pottery, etc. are widely distributed in Uganda. They are
of variable quality especially in terms of iron and quartz content and
therefore show variable reaction to firing. Detailed investigation could show
potential for better quality clays, including refractory material within these
deposits. The only limited investigation of such deposits however, has been
undertaken in areas near urban centres of Kampala, Masaka, Jinja and Mbarara.
The main deposits for brick and tile making are found at Kajjansi, Kisubi,
Namanve, Nansana and Katalemwa near Kampala; Kasukengo near Lukaya, Masaka and
Buteraniro near Mbarara.
Most production of bricks in Uganda is by artisanal
workers at a very small scale. However, there are a number of small to medium
size mechanised plants, the largest being Uganda Clays Ltd. located at Kajjansi
(with daily production of 100 tons of various products). Others are Pan African
Clays at Kajjansi; Kampala Archdiocese at Kisubi; Masaka Diocese at Butende
near Masaka and Hoima Diocese at Butema near Hoima and Clay and Allied Products
along Gayaza Road.. African Ceramics near Namugongo, Kampala is to undergo
rehabilitation to enable it produce plates and cups. There are also plans to
start floor and wall tile today using clays as part of the compounds.
Kaolin is used in the manufacture of paper, rubber,
paints, sanitaryware, pottery, leather tanning, pharmaceuticals, etc. In
Uganda, it is derived from weathered pegmatites and weathered shales of
Karagwe-Ankolean System. The main locations are at Mutaka in Bushenyi district,
Namasera, Buwambo and Migade near Kampala, Koki in Rakai district and Bukangama
near Kilembe. According to an IBRD/GOU study in 1994, the Mutaka deposit
contains 23 Mt of minable resource with 65% kaolinite with small amounts of
feldspar,quartz and mica. Muhindo Enterprises Ltd. has been issued an investment
licence for mining and processing kaolin at Mutaka. At Buwambo, a local company
mines and processes the kaolin for use in paints in Uganda. There are also
prospects for export to Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. Plans are also underway to
set up a factory tomanufacture floor and wall tiles using Kaolin as one of the
ingredients.
Feldspar is utilised mainly in ceramics and in the
glass industry. Good potential exists for small microcline deposits in
pegmatites within the Precambrian terrain, but this has not been quantified.
Feldspar also occurs in several beryl-bearing pegmatites such as Mutaka and
Rwemiriro in Bushenyi and at Lunya in Mukono, Bulema and Bugangari in Kigezi,
Nyabakweri in Ankole, Wabiyinja and Nakabale in Buganda and Lunya in Kyaggwe.
According to chemical analyses by the Geological Survey of Finland in 1994,
Mutaka feldspar was found to be of very high purity and suitable as a ceramic
and glass making raw material.Feldspar will also be one of the ingredients to
manufacture floor and wall tiles.
Silica Sand
Silica Sand is the main raw material for making
glass. Good potential exists, especially along the shores of Lake Victoria
including its islands such as Kome and Buvuma. Most prominent locations include
the Diimu and Bukakata sands near Masaka, Nalumuli and Nyimu bay and more than
2 Mt of good quality sand averaging 99.65% SiO2 and 0.05% Fe2O3
at Diimu. Various studies have been carried out by the Government and by
private investors to see the possibility of setting up glass plants. The
Madhvani Group is interested in reviving the East African Glass Works Ltd. The
Mukwano Group of Companies is also in the process of carrying out studies for
setting up a glass factory.
Diatomite is used mainly as a filtration medium for
beer and other beverages. Good potential exists for small to medium size,
high-grade stratabound diatomite (± kaolinite) deposits at
Panyango, Atar and Parombo near Pakwach within the Rift Valley sediments in
north-west Uganda. The Pakwach diatomite is very white and contains a large
proportion of diatoms in a kaolinite matrix. This is a promising material for
both high-grade diatomite and kaolinite production. -Studies undertaken show a
diatomite resource of about 100,000 tons, with amorphous silica and kaolinite(39%)
with minor quartz and a trace of smectite. The Pakwach -diatomite is very white
and contains a large proportion of diatoms in a kaolin matrix. It has good
potential for the commercial production of both high-grade diatomite and
kaolin.
Small deposits are found at Kibuku in Bundibugyo,
Muhokya in Kasese and Lake Mburo in Mbarara. There is an estimated 1.2 Mt at
Kibuku within the rift sediments, 29,000 tons of gysiferous clay at Muhokya and
80,000 tons at Lake Mburo. A number of location licences have been issued for
mining gypsum at Kibuku and these small operators currently supply the Hima
cement plant.
These include marble, granite, gneiss and dolerite
rocks that are used in buildings either in natural form or as cut and polished
slabs. Marble of white, grey, and pink occurs near Moroto town and are of very
high quality. marble quarrying would provide blocks for the manufacture of
slabs and tiles. Small chips and marble used to manufacture terrazzo cement
tiles, marble chips and marble powder.
Study to by the Industrial Development Department of
the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1997 confirmed the presence of marble and
granite deposits in Uganda, which can be exploited as dimension stones. The
study further noted that the market for imported dimension stone is projected
to increase at a steady rate, but the introduction of domestic products is
likely to stimulate much greater demand. During the study, a number of granite
deposits were selected for immediate development. These include: Lutembe
granite near Kajjansi, Singo granite (which hosts the Bulamu Quarry near
Kawungera village off the Mubende tarmac road), Iganga granite 4 km north of
Iganga town, and Butebo granite along Tororo to Busia road.
Saudi Marble Co. of Saudi Arabian has proposed to
invest over US $ 16 million to develop the Moroto marble resources to produce
dimension stone and terrazzo as a by-product. There are additional eight
potential entrepreneurs in Uganda interested in granite/marble quarrying and processing.
Glass is made by fusing silica with soda and lime to
produce a transparent, colourless soda-lime silicate. Glass sands which form
the main primary source of the silica need to be free of impurities such as
iron oxides, alumina and heavy minerals.
In Uganda narrow beach sand deposits, formed from
erosion of quartizites, occur at several locations along the shore of Lake
Victoria, including Entebbe, Kabogoga, Diimu (Mukinda, 1972, 1973), Nalumuli
Bay, Nyimu Bay, Lwera and Bukakata. The highest quality (99.95% SiO2)
glass sands have been mined from the Kome Islands and exported to Kenya
(Barnes, 1961). At Diimu, (Mboijana, 1992) over 100,000 t of good quality glass
sand (99.65% SiO2 and 0.05% Fe2O3) have been
delineated. Many of the less pure sands could be considerably improved by
screening and magnetic separation.
Production figures for past glass sand mining in
Uganda are not available.
Clean coarse beach sand, suitable for building and
concrete making, is readily available around the shores of the major lakes in
Uganda. Away from these lakes, however, good clean sand is not so readily
available in the swampier drainage courses which cover much of the country
(Barnes, 1961). In these latter areas the river courses and terraces usually
contain sands with some admixture of clay and silt such that washing is
required to produce a clean product.
Production figures for sand and gravel mining in
Uganda are not available.
Vermiculite is known to occur in two of the Tertiary
carbonatite complexes, at Bukusu and Sukulu (Taylor, 1956; Barnes, 1961). The
main occurrence is on a 10 km long semi-circular ridge (Namakera, Nakhupa and
Surumbusa) at Bukusu, where vermiculite flakes occur in residual concentrations
(from the leaching of phlogopite in carbonatite) below a surface cover of 4 - 5
m magnetic rubble. At Namakera a resource of 5 million tons of high-grade
vermiculite ore has been estimated (Tailor, 1956). Recent work carried out by
CANMIN, a Canadian Company, has upgraded the reserves to 5 million tons of high
grade vermiculite.
The geology of Uganda covers a very wide time span
and therefore favours the occurrence of hard rocks such as gneisses, granites,
quartzites for producing aggregate; and soft residual materials such as clays,
sand, laterite and gravel for the construction industry. Programmes for the
systematic investigation of the identified the resources that are presently
being exploited largely by artisanal methods are underway. It is now widely
recognised globally that the level of consumption of these materials (like that
of energy) has a direct bearing on the level of economic development.
Therefore, as the country’s economy continues to grow; the construction
industry will in turn expand and demand for these materials will increase .This
will necessitate the need for increase in systematic geological evaluation of
the mineral-based building and construction resources.