An airborne geophysical survey by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has revealed significant deposits of gold, rare earth minerals, and base metals in Lamwo District and the wider Karamoja region.
Eng. Pauline Irene Bateebe, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said the five-year survey, conducted since 2020 by Spanish firm Xcalibur with technical oversight from Watson and Grant, was financed through a €20 million (85 billion Shillings) loan facility from Spain.
She described the findings as a “landmark achievement” that will unlock Uganda’s mineral wealth transparently and sustainably, aligned with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV). “Both Lamwo and Karamoja have been fully covered, and the resultant data have been digitised into the national databases. This milestone will guide government and private sector investments for the country’s benefit,” Bateebe said.
She noted that gold was discovered in multiple areas, alongside rare earth elements such as antimony and niobium, vital for high-tech industries, as well as copper, cobalt, nickel, chrome, coltan, and other industrial minerals critical to renewable energy and modern manufacturing.
Isaiah Tumwikirize, Project Manager under the Department of Geological Survey and Mines, said the data should be regarded as a national strategic asset. “For the first time, licensing will no longer be based on speculation but on credible scientific evidence. Only serious investors will be able to engage in meaningful exploration and development activities,” he emphasised.
Carlos Velandos, Senior Technical Project Manager at Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics, told reporters at the Petroleum House on Tuesday, September 9, that the team applied geology, geophysics, chemistry, and airborne surveys to identify mineral-rich zones and investment targets.
However, officials cautioned that while the discoveries are promising, further detailed exploration is needed to establish the size, grade, and commercial viability of the deposits.
Kotido LCV Chairperson Paul Lote Komol welcomed the findings, saying the results bring relief to the region but urged the ministry to ensure the minerals transform livelihoods and change the narrative of Karamoja.
Earlier this year, preliminary airborne mapping indicated the region holds more than 300 million tonnes of limestone and marble in Moroto, Kotido, and Napak districts. Geological studies have also identified copper in Boboong (Kotido), chromite in Nakiloro (Moroto), and an estimated 139,000 ounces of gold with possible reserves of 160,000 ounces in Nakabat (Moroto).
Additional deposits of iron ore and columbite-tantalite were found across Moroto, Napak, and Kotido districts. Officials say these resources could prove economically viable and provide a major boost to Uganda’s development agenda.