The Rubanda iron ore export ban introduced in 2021 has caused serious distress for miners and local communities. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development imposed the ban to promote value addition within Uganda. But miners say the policy has crippled business and destroyed livelihoods.
In Rubanda district, piles of unsold iron ore lie abandoned at several mining sites. With no local buyers and no processing plants, miners say they have no way to sell their product.
Sam Nshemereirwe Kaboneka, an artisanal miner, described how the ban ruined his investment. “We put in a lot of money expecting to sell the ore. Now it’s just sitting there. Our workers—mostly locals—are out of income. Some families can’t even pay school fees,” he said.
He urged the government to listen to their concerns and lift the ban.
At JAF Investments Ltd, a private mining firm in Rubanda, the story is similar. Engineer Dominic Otto said the company had to shut down mining operations in October. “We used to export 10 to 15 tonnes of ore. Now we can’t sell any. Revenue is gone, and we’ve cut our workforce by half,” he said. He warned that if the situation continues, the company might close for good.
While miners want the ban removed, some experts support it. Mining specialist Eng. Jack Alberto Mihigo said encouraging local processing is the right strategy. “It’s good for long-term growth. But the government must first set up the right infrastructure,” he explained. “Policies like this only work when small miners have access to processing facilities.”
Government officials say the ban aligns with the Mining and Minerals Act of 2022, which aims to ensure value addition in Uganda’s mineral sector. Irene Pauline Batebe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, defended the policy. She said the ministry is supporting companies to move into processing and manufacturing. “We want Ugandans to benefit fully from their minerals,” she said in a phone interview.
However, miners in Rubanda say those benefits haven’t reached them. Instead of progress, they’re seeing increased poverty, unpaid debts, and lost jobs. Without accessible processing centers, they say the region’s iron ore wealth remains locked.
Community leaders warn that the government must act quickly. Otherwise, the area’s mining potential will continue to generate frustration—not prosperity.
