Kilembe Mines Limited
Uganda's historic copper and cobalt asset in the Rwenzori foothills, dormant as a producing mine for decades and repeatedly put back to market by government.
- Commodity
- Copper, cobalt, associated tailings
- Primary site
- Kilembe, Kasese District
- Ownership
- Government of Uganda
- Current state
- Rehabilitation and concession award process
- Status
- Concession re-tender process
UMT assessment
Kilembe is the reference case for what happens when a concession is awarded without a credible capital and rehabilitation plan. The 2013 award and its 2017 termination cost years of production and left the underground workings and tailings in a worse state than they were found.
Any new award should be read against three tests: committed capital held in escrow or bonded, a published rehabilitation schedule for the tailings above the Nyamwamba river, and a workforce plan for Kasese rather than an imported one.
Community record
Kasese carries the legacy costs, including tailings sitting in a flood-prone river valley. Community groups have raised contamination concerns repeatedly; a full independent environmental baseline has not been published.
Profiles are compiled from public licence records, ministry statements and UMT reporting. Company statements are attributed as claims. Corrections and right of reply: see our contact page.
Cement demand pushes limestone quarrying harder
Prossy Kansiime · July 6, 2026
Kilembe revival advances with state participation
Martha Kemigisha · June 28, 2026
Kilembe Mines revival still stalled
Moses Byaruhanga · April 4, 2023
Hima Cement expands Kasese skills training
Prossy Kansiime · March 30, 2023
Kasese Cobalt Company revival in view
Charity Mugisha · November 8, 2023