Until 2022, small-scale mining activities were reserved to Ugandan citizens and body corporates in which citizens of Uganda held at least 51% of the beneficial ownership of such a body.
Since the enter into force of the new Mining and Minerals Act of 2022, artisanal and small-scale mining licences are reserved to Ugandan citizens and companies wholly owned by Ugandan citizens.
"12. Acquisition of mineral right
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person may acquire the right to prospect, explore for, retain, mine, process, refine, smelt, fabricate or dispose of any mineral in Uganda by acquiring such right in accordance with this Act.
[...]
13. Restrictions on acquisition of mineral right
(1) A mineral right shall not be granted to or held by–
(a) an individual who(i) is not acitizenof Uganda; (ii) is under the age of eighteen years; or (iii) is or becomes an undischarged bankrupt, as a result of having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any written law; or 
(b) a company(i) which has not been registered or incorporated under the Companies Act, 2072; or (ii) which is in liquidation, except where the liquidation is part of a scheme for the reconstruction or amalgamation of such company. 
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, except for an artisanal mining licence and a small scale mining licence, a mineral right under thisAct shall only be granted to–
(a) a company registered or incorporated under the Companies Act,2012; 
(b) a body corporate registered or incorporated under the laws of Uganda;
(c) a partnership under the Partnership Act, 2010; 
(d) a cooperative society registered under the Cooperative Societies Act; 
(e) a trustee incorporated under the Trustees Incorporation Act; or 
(f) an association or business registered under any other written law.
[...]
Small Scale Mining Licence [...]
85. Eligibility for small scale mining licence 
(1) A person who wishes to carry out small scale mining operations shall apply for a small scale mining licence in a manner prescribed by regulations. 
(2) A small scale mining licence shall be granted to–
(a) an individual who is a citizen of Uganda;
(b) a cooperative society or associations registered under the laws of Uganda comprising Ugandan citizens exclusively; 2022 
(c) a partnership registered in accordance with the Partnership Ac! 2010 comprising of Ugandan citizens holding one hundred percent of the shares; or
(d) a company registered and incorporated under the Companies Act,2012 and having one hundred percent of its shares held by Ugandan citizens.
[...]
96. Eligibility for artisanal mining licence
(1) The following are eligible to apply for an artisanal mining licence under this Act–
(a) an individual who is a citizen of Uganda; 
(b) a cooperative society, trustee or association registered or incorporated under the laws of Uganda comprising of Ugandan citizens exclusively and whose membership shall include women and marginalised groups, where applicable; 
(c) a joint venture or partnership registered in accordance with the Partnership Act, 2010 comprising of Ugandan citizens exclusively; 
(d) a business registered under the Business Names Registration Act and exclusively owned by Ugandan citizens; or 
(e) a company registered or incorporated under the Companies Act,2012 and having one hundred percent of its shares held by Ugandan citizens..[...]" (Mining and Minerals Act, 2O22)
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Previously up to 2022
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"Interpretation. 2. 
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires - [...]
"mineral" means any substance, whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form occurring naturally in or on the earth, formed by or subject to a geological process; but does not include petroleum, as defined in the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 1985, Act 7 of 1985, water or building mineral; [...]
"small-scale operations" means prospecting or mining operations which do not involve expenditure in excess of five hundred currency points or the use of   specialised technology; 
[...]
PART IV - LOCATION LICENCE
Application of Act to location licence. 
54. (1) The Minister may, with the approval of the Cabinet, by statutory instrument, exclude or modify any of the provisions of this Act, which would otherwise apply to the granting of a location licence. 
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, "location licence" means a licence for prospecting and mining operations by methods which do not involve substantial expenditure and the use of specialised technology; and for the purposes of this subsection "substantial expenditure" means expenditure in excess of five hundred currency points necessary to bring the mine into production or such other amount as may be prescribed. 
Location licence. 
55. (1) Any person who wishes to carry on small-scale prospecting and mining operations shall apply for a location licence.
(2) A location licence shall be granted, in the case of an individual, only to a citizen of Uganda, and in the case of a body corporate, only where citizens of Uganda hold at least fifty one percent of the beneficial ownership of such a body. [...]" (Mining Act, 2003)
Mining and Minerals Act, 2O22
Mining Act, 2003
[<a href="https://bills.parliament.ug/attachments/Mining%20and%20Minerals%20Act,%202022.pdf">Act</a>],[<a href="https://old.ulii.org/system/files/legislation/act/2003/2003/mining%20Act%202003.pdf">Act</a>],[<a href="https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-policy-monitor/measures/4454/new-mining-and-minerals-act-2022-assigns-the-state-an-ownership-interest-in-large-and-medium-scale-mines#:~:text=The%20new%20Act%20provides%20for,or%20commercial%20processes%20or%20applications.">Other</a>]