Delegates representing cooperatives from Buhweju, Mubende, Busia, Karamoja and Kitgum met in Kampala in September 2025 and voted to establish a national federation of artisanal and small-scale miners. The federation is designed to negotiate collectively with the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines, with aggregators and with international responsible-sourcing schemes.
For a workforce that has historically been fragmented, invisible in statute and price-taking at the pit head, the federation is a genuine structural change. Its success will depend on transparent governance and on whether cooperatives at the district level see it delivering on price, safety and market access.