By Spy Uganda
Entebbe, Uganda – The Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines (DGSM), under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, has officially launched the PanAfGeo+ Uganda Country Window, a landmark project aimed at strengthening Uganda’s capacity in mineral exploration, data generation, and investment attraction. The launch took place today at K Hotels in Entebbe and was officiated by State Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Fiona Nyamutoro.
The PanAfGeo+ program is an EU-funded initiative implemented by a consortium of European Geological Surveys, coordinated by the Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS). With an investment of €3.5 million for Uganda, the project seeks to bridge critical gaps in geological data, capacity building, and investment promotion to unlock the country’s vast mineral wealth.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Fred Alex Tugume, Acting Commissioner of DGSM’s Geological Survey Department, highlighted the department’s century-long history and the significant international partnerships that have shaped its progress.
“This cooperation we are kicking off today is complementary to many achievements already made. It is timely and rhymes with the objectives of our department. Geological exploration and quantification remain central to Uganda’s development agenda, as outlined in the National Development Plans,” Dr. Tugume noted.
Representing the Permanent Secretary, Grace Tusiime, Under Secretary of the Ministry, emphasised the program’s strategic importance:
“This launch is more than the beginning of another project. It is the outcome of years of preparation and the start of a partnership that will unlock Uganda’s mineral sector. Through detailed geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and feasibility studies, we aim to de-risk mineral prospects and attract investment,” she said.
According to Tusiime, the four-year project will focus on three pillars:
- Data collection and evaluation – generating investment-grade geological data on critical mineral targets.
- Capacity building – equipping DGSM staff with modern exploration and analytical skills, alongside laboratory strengthening.
- Promotion and investment attraction – packaging and showcasing mineral data to investors at international platforms such as the Mining Indaba and Uganda Mineral Wealth Conference.
The European Union Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Jan Sadek, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s mineral sector as part of the broader EU–Uganda partnership on critical raw materials.
“Accurate geological data is the bedrock of mineral development. Through PanAfGeo+, we will generate reliable, investment-grade information, build skills among Ugandan geoscientists, and promote transparency in the sector. This creates a win-win scenario where Europe builds a trusted partner and Uganda attracts investment, skills, and technology transfer,” Ambassador Sadek said.
From the European consortium, Dr. Milos Bavec, Director of GeoZS, stressed the project’s collaborative spirit:
“Our role is not to guide you, but to walk alongside you—exchanging expertise and ensuring that this project meets Uganda’s needs. Geology does not stop at borders, and neither should our collaboration,” he remarked.
His colleague, Dr. Slavko V. Solar, Director of the Uganda Country Window, outlined the project’s workstreams, which include geological mapping, laboratory upgrades, postgraduate training, and promotion of Uganda’s mineral targets to global investors.
The PanAfGeo+ program builds on earlier phases of PanAfGeo and related projects across Africa, which have already trained over 1,700 geoscientists in 54 countries. Dr. Erwan Bourdon of the French Geological Survey (BRGM) explained that this new phase, worth €24 million across Africa, has a stronger focus on critical raw materials and EU–Africa business networks in mining.
Officiating the launch, Minister Nyamutoro underscored the government’s commitment to transforming Uganda’s mineral potential into sustainable prosperity:
“Our mineral sector holds world-class potential for critical minerals vital to the global clean energy transition. For Uganda to attract large-scale investment, we must de-risk our prospects with internationally standardised data. The PanAfGeo+ program is a game changer—it is about building capacity, transferring skills, and positioning Uganda’s Geological Survey Department as a centre of excellence,” she said.
The launch was attended by top government officials from the Ministry of Energy, representatives from European Geological Surveys (Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, Finland, France, Slovenia), private sector players and development partners.
The project will run until 2028, with outputs expected to include internationally certified feasibility studies, trained Ugandan geoscientists, upgraded laboratories, and packaged mineral data ready for global investors.
