Natural resources of Uganda
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Uganda: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
7.5 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2025)
53.4 %
Forest, share of land (2024)
11.9 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
| Pumice And Pumicite | 830 | thousand metric tons | 6 | 4.2 | 2 | Not published |
| Vermiculite | 20 | thousand metric tons | 7 | 4.3 | 3 | NA |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 27 mineral commodities with published production in Uganda between 2017 and 2021, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 27 of 27
| Beryl | Metals | Not published | Not published | 24 | 15 | 190 | 190 | 2017: --; 2021: e |
| Gold, mine, Au content | Metals | kilograms | 2,500 | 1,500 | 2,400 | 3,205 | 3,600 | 2017: e; 2018: e; 2019: e; 2021: e |
| Gold, refinery | Metals | kilograms | 9,330 | 12,000 | 17,000 | 12,000 | 6,000 | 2018: e; 2020: e; 2021: e |
| Iron ore, mine, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 2,320 | 4,500 | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2019: --; 2020: --; 2021: -- |
| Iron ore, mine, fe content | Metals | Not published | 1,500 | 2,900 | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2019: --; 2020: --; 2021: -- |
| Iron and steel, raw steel | Metals | Not published | 165,000 | 190,000 | 210,000 | 210,000 | 210,000 | 2018: r, e; 2019: r; 2020: e; 2021: e |
| Lead, refinery, secondary | Metals | Not published | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 | Not published |
| Niobium, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, gross weight | Metals | kilograms | 11,187 | 6,980 | 6,620 | 172,654 | 170,000 | 2018: r; 2019: r; 2021: e |
| Niobium, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, nb content | Metals | kilograms | 470 | 290 | 280 | 7,200 | 7,200 | 2019: r |
| Tantalum, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, gross weight | Metals | kilograms | 11,187 | 6,980 | 6,620 | 172,654 | 170,000 | 2018: r; 2019: r; 2021: e |
| Tantalum, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, ta content | Metals | kilograms | 2,500 | 1,500 | 1,500 | 38,000 | 38,000 | Not published |
| Tin, mine, Sn content | Metals | Not published | 66 | 53 | 15 | Not published | Not published | 2020: --; 2021: -- |
| Tungsten, mine, concentrate, W content | Metals | Not published | 62 | 188 | 145 | 11 | Not published | 2019: r; 2021: -- |
| Cement, hydraulic | Industrial Minerals | thousand metric tons | 2,511 | 2,557 | 3,072 | 3,738 | 4,200 | 2021: e |
| Brick clay | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 14,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 13,000,000 | 13,000,000 | 14,500,000 | 2019: r |
| Kaolin | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 55,317 | 17,281 | 10,448 | 323 | Not published | 2018: r; 2021: -- |
| Lime | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 190,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 2017: r |
| Pumice and related materials, pozzolan, materials | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 792,564 | 1,103,198 | 960,363 | 1,129,801 | 1,300,000 | 2021: e |
| Salt | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | Not published |
| Sand and gravel, sand | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 3,600,000 | 3,200,000 | 3,800,000 | 4,600,000 | 5,200,000 | Not published |
| Aggregates | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 6,900,000 | 6,200,000 | 7,400,000 | 9,000,000 | 10,000,000 | Not published |
| Limestone | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 1,231,926 | 894,001 | 942,477 | 705,081 | 710,000 | 2021: e |
| Syenite | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 93,639 | 164,353 | 126,034 | 64,746 | 65,000 | 2021: e |
| Granite | Industrial Minerals | Not published | Not published | 255 | 220 | 122 | 120 | 2017: NA; 2021: e |
| Marble | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 4,500 | Not published | Not published | 3,969 | 4,000 | 2017: e; 2018: --; 2019: --; 2021: e |
| Other | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 1,500,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,900,000 | 2,100,000 | Not published |
| Vermiculite | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 4,119 | 10,413 | 9,674 | 14,170 | 14,000 | 2021: e |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 41 of 41
| Cement | Tororo Cement Ltd. | Plant at Tororo | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Hima Cement Ltd. (Bamburi Cement Ltd., 70%) | Plant at Kasese | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Hima Cement Ltd. (Bamburi Cement Ltd., 70%) | Plant at Tororo | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Kampala Cement Company Ltd. | Plant at Namataba | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Simba Cement Uganda Ltd. (National Cement Company Ltd. ) | Plant at Tororo | Not published | Not published |
| Brick | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in various locations | Not published | Not published |
| Kaolin | Muhindo Enterprises Ltd. | Mine in Buhweju District | Not published | Not published |
| Copper, mine | Kilembe Mines Ltd. (Government, 100%) | Mine in Kasese District | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Mubende District | Not published | kilograms |
| Mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Karamoja District | Not published | kilograms |
| Mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Buhweju District | Not published | kilograms |
| Refined do. | African Gold Refinery (AGR) | Entebbe | Not published | Not published |
| Iron and steel, steel, crude | Tembo Steel Ltd. | Plant at Lugazi | Not published | Not published |
| Iron and steel, steel, crude | Tembo Steel Ltd. | Plant at Iganga | Not published | Not published |
| Iron and steel, steel, crude | Pramukh Steel Ltd. | Plant at Njeru | Not published | Not published |
| Iron ore | Kamuntu Investment Ltd. | Mine in Kabale District | Not published | Not published |
| Lead, refined secondary | Uganda Batteries Ltd. | Plant in Kanungu District | Not published | Not published |
| Lime | Artisanal and small-scale producers | Various locations including Kasese and Tororo Districts | Not published | Not published |
| Niobium (columbium) and | 3T Mining Ltd. | Wampero Mine in Waksio | Not published | Not published |
| Phosphate fertilizers | Guangzhou Dongsong Energy Group | Plant at Sukulu | Not published | Not published |
| Pozzolanic material | Tororo Cement Ltd. | Mine in Kapchorwa District | Not published | Not published |
| Pozzolanic material | Industrial Minerals Ltd. | Mine in Rubirizi District | Not published | Not published |
| Pozzolanic material | Seahorse International Ltd. | Mine in Kabarole District | Not published | Not published |
| Pozzolanic material | Hillmarks Ltd. | Mine in Kabarole District | Not published | Not published |
| Pozzolanic material | Royal Transit Ltd. | Mine in Kabarole District | Not published | Not published |
| Pozzolanic material | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mine in Kabarole District | Not published | Not published |
| Salt | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mine at Lake Katwe | Not published | Not published |
| Sand, construction | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in various locations | Not published | Not published |
| Limestone | Hima Cement Ltd. | Mines in Kasese District | Not published | Not published |
| Limestone | Hima Cement Ltd. | Mine in Kamwenge District | Not published | Not published |
| Limestone | Tororo Cement Ltd. | Mines in Moroto District | Not published | Not published |
| Limestone | Tororo Cement Ltd. | Mines in Tororo District | Not published | Not published |
| Limestone | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in various locations | Not published | Not published |
| Unspecified | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in various locations | Not published | Not published |
| Marble | DAO Marble | Mines in Moroto District | Not published | Not published |
| Marble | DAO Marble | Plant in Kampala | Not published | Not published |
| Unspecified | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in various locations | Not published | Not published |
| Tin | African Panther Resources (U) Ltd. | Mine in Isingiro District | Not published | Not published |
| Tungsten content of | KI3R Minerals International | Nyamurilo Mine in Rubanda | Not published | Not published |
| wolframite | 3T Mining Ltd. | Buyaga Mine in Lyantonde District | Not published | Not published |
| Vermiculite | Namekara Mining Company Ltd. | Namekara Mine in Manafwa District | Not published | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2019, Uganda. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 7.5% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks Uganda 27th of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Minerals | Forests |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.0 % | 8.1 % |
| 2011 | 0.0 % | 9.2 % |
| 2012 | 0.0 % | 10.7 % |
| 2013 | 0.1 % | 10.5 % |
| 2014 | 0.1 % | 10.2 % |
| 2015 | 0.1 % | 10.7 % |
| 2016 | 0.1 % | 12.6 % |
| 2017 | 0.0 % | 12.1 % |
| 2018 | 0.0 % | 8.4 % |
| 2019 | 0.0 % | 7.4 % |
| 2020 | 0.0 % | 7.6 % |
| 2021 | 0.0 % | 7.5 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
11.9 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
43.6 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
824 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Uganda. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Uganda have?
Uganda's main natural resources are pumice and pumicite, vermiculite and timber. Gold, diamonds and precious metals made up 50% of its goods exports in 2025, and all resources together 53.4%. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 7.5% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber. The U.S. Geological Survey also records production of beryl, gold, niobium, tantalum, tungsten and brick clay, among 15 mineral commodities.
Does Uganda produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for Uganda in 2025. It does list proved reserves of 2.5 billion barrels (2021).
What is Uganda's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, gold, diamonds and precious metals: 50% of goods exports in 2025, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to Uganda's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 7.5% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Uganda 27th of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in Uganda?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2019 list of Uganda's mineral industry names 21 operating companies, including Tororo Cement Ltd., Hima Cement Ltd., Kampala Cement Company Ltd., Simba Cement Uganda Ltd. and Muhindo Enterprises Ltd.. The full list is on this page.
Where does Uganda rank in world mineral production?
In 2025, Uganda ranked 6th for pumice and pumicite and 7th for vermiculite among the producers the U.S. Geological Survey lists.