Emmanuel Katto Says Uganda's Mining Resources Are Its Development Pillar.

Globally, mining is a common industry that frequently takes place in undeveloped, fragile, and rural areas, including many indigenous lands and territories. According to local Ugandan Journalist Emmanuel Katto, when correctly managed, it can create jobs, encourage innovation, and attract significant amounts of investment and infrastructure. If mining is not managed effectively, it may also bring about environmental degradation, population displacement, inequality, and growing violence.

Emka aka Emmanuel Katto asserted that the artisanal miners of small and medium-sized firms, which make up the majority of the Development Minerals sector, are socioeconomically disadvantaged as a result of the COVID 19 Pandemic's unprecedented business disruptions and shocks. 

• By 2003/2004, it has provided Uganda with foreign cash through the shipment of minerals like copper. Further progress has been made using the exchange obtained.

• Ugandans now have career options, says Emka Uganda, thanks to the mining industry. More than 15,000 people are said to be employed in the sector now, up from thousands in the 1970s when the Kirembe copper mine employed Bakiga and Bakonjo in order to raise their level of living.

• For example, Kasese, Kirembe, and Katwe towns arose as a result of the copper and salt mining in Uganda, which enables urbanisation. Additionally, the development of Masindi and Hoima owing to oil extraction, as well as the settlements of Tororo and Hima from the mining of limestone.

• The sector contributes to the creation of vital transportation, energy, educational, and healthcare infrastructure. Due to the efforts of Kirembe Mines Secondary School in Kasese and the Jinja-Kampala-Kasese railway line for the transportation of copper, asserts Emmanuel Katto, Uganda will continue to flourish.

• The establishment of the mubuku irrigation project in Kasese to create a steady supply of food for the Kirembe mine employees is explained by the fact that the mining sector serves as a market for agricultural goods of food to feed the mine workers.

• It has prevented overdependence on the agriculture sector and contributed to the economic diversification of Uganda. This denotes a growth in the country’s income, foreign exchange, and overall development.

• It has enhanced Uganda’s connections with countries that import minerals, like China and the USA says Emka. Political stability and increased trade between nations have resulted from this.

• By granting mining corporations licenses and charging miners, the mining business has brought in a sizable sum of money for the government coffers. The money raised has been utilized to open schools and medical facilities.

• It has caused Uganda to become more industrialized, with businesses like Hima and Tororo cement using limestone as a raw material.

• By luring international visitors to Uganda to buy copper, iron ore, salt, and other commodities, says Emmanuel Katto mining has bolstered the country’s tourism industry and generated foreign cash.

Emmanuel Katto | Resources in Africa

Africa’s resources are the backbone of their economic growth. The land in Africa is very fertile and there is timely rainfall as well. Minerals in Africa varies from region to region. Minerals such as gold, diamond, uranium and also iron ore are found Africa in an excessive manner being the source of revenue for this country.

Nigeria and Angola are the two countries that are rich in oil and gas resources. Africa is very high in resources. Agriculture is the main activity followed by the Africans since the land is quite fertile and cocoa, tea and coffee is produce at a large scale. Natural resources such as river, since Afrcia is home to some of the rivers like Nile, Congo and Niger etc.

Uganda also produces number of natural resources such as sugar, tea, coffee, fish and livestock rearing as well. Other resources such as millets, cotton, tobacco, beans etc. are also produced. So altogether Africa is having adequate resources. Referring to export done by Uganda it mainly export the agricultural goods such as cotton, coffee, fish etc. Uganda mainly exports to Kenya, Sudan, UAE, Germany and South Africa. Africa also have an extensive forest region and it consist of largest tropical rainforest in the world.

Despite having abundance of resources and extensive forest these countries still faces challenges in maintaining or harnessing them leading to sustainable development. Issues such as corruption and poor management system is hindering the development of this country. However things are much better from previous time as now steps are being taken by the government to address these issues or concern. Even when question of managing the resources were asked to Emmanuel Katto or we can say Emka of Uganda, he also have an optimistic view on the sustainable development of the resources with regards to overall development of Africa.