At a conference on mineral wealth in September 2026, Fiona Nyamutoro set out her priority clearly: Uganda will no longer export raw materials in their unprocessed form. The Minister of Minerals, one of the youngest members of the cabinet, stated that the question now is not which minerals the country has, but what can be built from them.
Nyamutoro, born in 1993 in the Nebbi district, went from vice-president of the Makerere University student council to member of parliament and minister. Her appointment in 2024 and confirmation in 2026 as Minister of Minerals for the term 2026–2031 show President Museveni's trust in young cadres. During this time she has already managed to conduct inspections of illegal mining operations in Kisoro and Kanungu, to require artisanal miners to comply with the law, and to give companies deadlines to remedy violations.
Her public statements and actions align: an emphasis on commercialising resources, attracting investment in processing and beneficiation, rather than merely extraction. This corresponds to the industrialisation course announced by the government. At the same time, Nyamutoro stresses that local communities must benefit — compensation, jobs and participation in projects.
Given that Uganda possesses more than 58 categories of minerals, including rare earth metals, gold and lithium, the choice in favour of added value looks logical. The young minister, whose career is built on the president's trust and the support of young people, is using her position to cement a reputation as an effective manager capable of turning resources into a real economy.
As in the case of the artisanal miners, who are not driven out but brought into the legal fold, Nyamutoro's approach combines firmness and pragmatism. This makes it possible to maintain social stability while at the same time moving the industry forward.
The minister's actions show that in Uganda young leaders are given space to implement long-term plans, where personal loyalty and institutional goals coincide.
