Mining Act (Chapter 148).

The Mining Act establishes the legal framework governing the exploration, extraction, possession, and trade of minerals in Uganda. It vests ownership and control of minerals and petroleum in the government and regulates prospecting and mining through a system of licences, leases, and registered rights granted to individuals or entities. The Act outlines procedures for obtaining prospecting licences and mining leases, defines the rights and obligations of holders, and regulates activities such as land access, compensation to landowners, environmental protection, use of water resources, and restoration of land after mining operations. It also sets rules for the possession, sale, import, and export of minerals, payment of royalties, and licensing of mineral dealers and goldsmiths. Additional provisions address dispute resolution, inspections, mine safety and labour conditions, infrastructure such as access roads and passageways, and the registration and transfer of mining rights. The Act further establishes offences, penalties, and enforcement mechanisms to prevent unlawful mining, fraud, and improper handling of minerals, thereby providing a comprehensive regulatory framework for mineral resource governance and mining operations in Uganda.