The government is urgently seeking an investor to re-open the Kilembe Copper Mines located at Kasese District.
Kilembe Copper Mines has an estimated 4.5m tonnes of ore. The Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo during her inspection of Kilembe Mines directed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to immediately initiate a process to get an investor to come and take over the management and operationalization of the mines.
“The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, within the shortest time possible advertise the Expression of Interest for an investor. Please let it be transparent. As the government does the revamp of the infrastructure, the investor will be handling the exploration and mining,” Alupo said.
Alupo directed the Uganda National Roads Authority and the Ministry of Works and Transport, to expedite the reconstruction of Kyanjuki Bridge at Kilembe Mines.
The bridge connects the copper mine. This bridge will help tourists to reach the highest point of the Rwenzori Mountains, Mt. Stanley’s Margherita Peak.
“The ministry of water and environment should do their part, to control River Nyamwamba so that when the bridges are constructed, the river will be tamed enough to follow its original route and will not affect communities, or people crossing from one point to another”.
She added: “I will table a proposal before the President to get money and pay the people who are now working as volunteers to keep assets of the mines, who have not been receiving their payments, for a long time. We will propose to the President, to get money and pay those arrears.”
There are seven staff in top management and 131 other employees, supported by a seven-member board of directors, whose salaries and allowances have accumulated to about sh2b.
“Government will reconstruct Kilembe Hospital because we know it has been serving several people, who still need help, as well as other schools which were razed down by River Nyamwamba. There are plans, to get funds, and revive all those schools which were washed away by the floods,” she explained.
A total of 10 secondary and primary schools were razed down by River Nyamwamba last year. Government is in the process of having them reconstructed.
The mine, from 1956 to the mid-1960s was vibrant. It accounted for up to 30% of Uganda’s foreign export earnings. It was the country’s third-highest export-earning venture, coming only after coffee and cotton.
The major producer of copper and cobalt, Kilembe was abandoned by Canadian firm Falconbridge in the 1970s when Uganda’s economy stagnated.
The mine started making losses in the 1970s due to lack of recapitalization, rampant inflation, and the global collapse of copper prices at the time, which drove away foreign investors.
The government became the major shareholder in 1975 and copper production ceased in 1982; when it was no longer economically viable.
Previous government efforts to revive the mine that is located near Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1983 to 2006 have not yet yielded fruits.
However, Kilembe Mines has great potential. There are proven reserves of ore estimated to be 1.77 percent pure copper and 0.17 percent cobalt, according to Uganda’s Department of Geological Survey and Mines.
More so, an estimated 5.5 million tonnes at an average grade of 0,171% copper and o.114 cobalt were left above ground in dams as tailings despite being partly eroded by the recent River Nyamwamba floodwaters. When protected, these tailings are expected to supplement metal recoveries and enhance cash flow when Kilembe Mines resume.
Alupo said they are determined to redevelop the mine, which is located at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
During the inspection, Alupo was accompanied by the State Minister for minerals Peter Lokeris, the State Minister in the Vice President’s Office Diana Mutasingwa, the state minister for national guidance Godfrey Kabyanga, and the state minister for trade, industry, and cooperatives Harriet Ntabazi.
The team also included the Principal Private Secretary in the Office of the Vice President Alex Kakooza, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Irene Batebe, the UNRA executive director Allen Kagina, the executive director at the Uganda Investment Authority Robert Mukuza, and the Engineer in Chief at the ministry of works and transport Sam Bagonza.
Also present were the Members of Parliament from the Kasese District including Kambale Ferigo and Kitanywa Sowedi and Kasese district leaders.
