News

October 17, 2016

Uganda: Media Orientation Helps to Shape Policy

 

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Africa/Uganda

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Uganda has experienced strong economic growth averaging 6.4% over the last two decades. This has led to an infrastructure boom and rapid urbanization with increased demand for construction materials, dimension stones, industrial minerals and semi-precious stones.

Nevertheless, the Development Minerals sector in Uganda has historically been neglected in terms of supportive laws and policies. This reality has contributed to ambiguous oversight and support to the sector.

In line with an objective of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme to strengthening environment, health and safety practices, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development (MEMD) was supported to prepare the final draft Mining and Minerals Policy 2016 and ensure that issues pertaining to Development Minerals were effectively incorporated.

A consolidation meeting was undertaken by a select inter-ministerial team (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development & Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs) in Mukono district, central Uganda, over a period of four days (October 17 – 20,2016). As a result, the draft Policy was updated to reflect stakeholder feedback before being presented to Cabinet.

Additionally, a Media orientation meeting took place in Uganda on November 30, 2016 in order to equip 32 media practitioners and stakeholders with knowledge specific to the Development Minerals sector. This media orientation was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the media practitioners on all dimensions of the sector in order to ensure informed and balanced media coverage and reporting.