Departments – Mineral Development Programme

Geology Division

To establishment of the mineral potential of the country
To collect and update existing geological data.
To monitor geo-tectonic events, geohazards and offer technical advisory services for sustainable infrastructural development and safety.
To carry out geotechnical and geohazard investigations to plan for and mitigate disasters.
To identify, qualify and recommend geosites and geoparks for gazzetting .
To catalogue and store geological samples for future reference.
To promote and conduct research for innovation in the mineral sub-sector.
To train and support the development of human resource in geological mapping and exploration activities.

Laboratory Division

To offer sample preparation services to prepare samples for analysis
To offer laboratory testing of geological materials, mineral and mineral commodities, and environment samples to identify the composition of the earth.
To operate and maintain regional training and mineral beneficiation centers to support in country mineral value addition.
To study optical and physical properties to provide services towards mineral appraisal, valuation and grading.

To conduct Geophysical Investigations for Mineral development and related earth resources development.
To update and maintain a geophysical and seismic database.
To disseminate airborne and ground geophysical data and seismic data.
To establish and maintain seismic stations and seismic monitoring network.
To conduct active and passive seismic surveys for geotechnical investigations.
To train and support the development of human resource geophysics.

Geodata Division

To acquire, process and disseminate geoscientific information to various stakeholders.
To establish and maintain a centralized geoscientific database for data storage, back up and recovery.
To prepare and produce various geoscientific maps and illustrations for research and promotion of the mineral sub-sector.
To promote the mineral sector of Uganda locally and internationally to attract investment.
To provide reprography services for distribution and preservation of mineral information archives digitally and physically.
To update the geochemical atlas
To identify and create a visual hierarchy of geosites and geoparks for education purposes and future scientific reference.
To establish and maintain a geological museum to preserve geo-historical, geo-antiquities and create awareness of rocks and minerals and geological equipment.

License Administration division

To formulate policies and legal framework that governs mineral rights
application and operations.
To receive and capture minerals rights applications using the Mining cadastre system.
To recommend grant or reject of application.
To maintain and update the mineral Cadastre portal with new information related to licensing

Geoscience division

To conduct validation and technical evaluation of received mineral
applications to advise on grant or reject of application.
To conduct quarterly performance appraisal of licensed operations to advise on revocation or cancellation of the issued license.
To manage the technical documentation within the Mines Department.
To identify greenfields and/ or brownfields in mining using spatial data.

To design, coordinate and implement M&E framework of Mines Department
Monitoring and inspection of mining operations to emphasize compliance.
To collect and review data quality on mining to measure achievements against set goals.
Community sensitization on issues related to gender, health and safety in mining operations
Training of artisanal miners in sustainable mining and mineral value addition.
To establish and publish mineral trading centres

Geology & Geophysics division

To establish the geothermal potential of Uganda
To promote and facilitate the effective and efficient management and the development of geothermal resources.
To support regulatory administration and supervision over all geothermal exploration and exploitation operations.
To maintain the geothermal resource database.
To offer advisory services on other geothermal uses.

Engineering division

Mineral Development Programme