Uganda has firmly positioned itself as one of Africa’s fastest-rising gold exporters, with gold export earnings reaching an unprecedented US$5.8 billion (approximately Shs21.1 trillion) in the year ending November 2025, according to the Bank of Uganda.
This remarkable growth underscores gold’s central role in Uganda’s mineral economy and highlights the increasing sophistication of the country’s mining, refining, and trading ecosystem.
Beyond gold, however, Uganda is richly endowed with coltan, tantalite, copper, diamonds, silver, limestone, uranium, and marble, with major mineral belts stretching across Busia, Buhweju, Mubende, Kassanda, and Karamoja.
At the heart of this transformation are visionary miners, refiners, and traders whose operations span artisanal mining, industrial extraction, international trading, and value addition.
Below is a detailed look at Uganda’s top gold dealers and mining leaders shaping the sector’s growth and global relevance. Please note, however, that this is just Part 1 of this article and make sure you don’t miss Part 2!
David Ushindi
Ushindi leads Kibali Gold Mining Company, a major regional player with operations in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other African jurisdictions. Under his leadership, Kibali has strengthened cross-border mining operations, enhanced production efficiencies, and contributed to regional gold supply chains.
Ushindi’s influence reflects the growing integration of Uganda’s gold sector with the broader Great Lakes Region, reinforcing Uganda’s role as both a producer and a strategic trading hub.
Nari Patel
Patel heads East Coast Minerals Uganda Ltd (ECML), a locally owned company specialising in mineral sourcing, trading, and refining. ECML plays a critical role in formalising mineral supply chains and ensuring traceability, an increasingly important requirement in global gold markets.
His leadership has positioned ECML as a trusted intermediary between miners and international buyers, supporting Uganda’s compliance with international mineral trading standards.
Allan Agumya
With over 13 years of experience, Agumya is one of Uganda’s most influential mining professionals. As Managing Director of Rusla Mining & Minerals Ltd and Chairman of the Miners’ Forum Uganda, he has championed industry coordination, policy engagement, and responsible mining practices.
His expertise spans gold, tungsten, tin, tantalum, lithium, and base metals, with active exploration projects across Uganda. Agumya’s work has been instrumental in aligning artisanal and medium-scale miners with formal markets, a key factor behind Uganda’s export growth.
Sam Akatuhumuza
Akatuhumuza has overseen operations at Gold Mine Ltd for more than five years, focusing on process optimisation, compliance, and profitability. His operational leadership has strengthened internal controls and enhanced output quality in Uganda’s competitive precious metals industry.
Akatuhumuza’s approach reflects the sector’s shift toward professionalised mining operations, which is essential for sustaining export growth and attracting investment.
John Bosco Mugarura aka Poshu Poshu
Mugarura, popularly known as ‘Poshu Poshu’, is a prominent artisanal miner and gold dealer in the Karamoja region, particularly in the Moroto area. He owns and operates an ore crushing mill, supporting local miners and enabling value addition at the community level.
His role highlights the importance of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Uganda’s gold economy, especially in mineral-rich but historically underdeveloped regions like Karamoja.
Benard Mungu Feni
Feni is widely celebrated as the founder and CEO of Eurogold Refinery Uganda, the first wholly Ugandan-owned gold refinery, which was officially commissioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni last year. A businessman from Arua City, Feni has played a transformative role in domestic gold refining and value addition.
Under his leadership, Eurogold expanded beyond Uganda, establishing main offices in Dubai to serve international markets. His broader business portfolio includes Aureum Minerals & Resource International, Zoe Finance, and the Mungu Feni Foundation, reflecting a strong commitment to economic development and community impact.
Moses Masagazi and Gertrude Njuba
Masagazi and Njuba jointly own AUC Mining Uganda Limited, which operates extensive gold mines in Kassanda North County, Mubende District, one of Uganda’s most productive gold belts.
Although they were a subject of controversy some time back following conflicts with local artisanal miners in Kassanda, their operations have contributed significantly to local employment, gold output, and the transformation of Mubende into a major mining hub supporting Uganda’s export boom.
Michael Robinson
Robinson is listed as the President and CEO of Simba Gold Refinery Limited, with records showing active leadership from late 2024 through 2025. Simba Gold Refinery plays a vital role in refining and exporting Ugandan gold to international markets.
Robinson’s leadership underscores the growing presence of refinery-level investment in Uganda, which aligns with national goals of increasing value addition before export.
A Golden Future for Uganda
The surge to US$5.8 billion in gold export earnings reflects more than rising global prices; it signals structural progress in Uganda’s mining sector.
From artisanal miners in Karamoja to world-class refineries exporting to Dubai, Uganda’s gold value chain is becoming more organised, compliant, and globally competitive.
As regulatory oversight improves and investment in refining and exploration continues, these industry leaders will remain central to Uganda’s ambition of becoming a regional mineral powerhouse, not just in gold, but across its vast portfolio of strategic minerals.