Euro Gold Refinery has signed an agreement with the Kakoka Artisanal Miners Association in Abim District to support licensed gold production and improve access to formal markets. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed on August 11, provides for technical support, mining infrastructure development, responsible mining practices, and local value addition. This partnership aims to bring more artisanal and small-scale miners into the formal economy, improve working conditions, and strengthen the traceability of gold produced in Uganda.
The partnership will help the association secure an artisanal gold mining licence and support the development of infrastructure at its mining site. According to Euro Gold Refinery, this arrangement marks an important step toward strengthening collaboration and creating opportunities between the two parties. The signing ceremony was attended by members of the Kakoka executive board and Euro Gold Refinery director Benard Feni.
Kakoka's executive director, Denis, welcomed the partnership, citing the refinery's assistance in securing a mining licence and developing site infrastructure as a means to protect miners from exploitation, improve safety, and increase their earnings. This development comes as the government seeks to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining, with State Minister for Minerals Phiona Nyamutoro advocating for the formalization of these mining activities.
The agreement commits Euro Gold Refinery and the association to improving mining practices, providing technical assistance, and supporting local processing of gold. Euro Gold Refinery is excited to support the mining journey through meaningful partnerships, value addition, and community empowerment. The company works with mining communities in various regions, linking local producers to refining capacity and formal markets.
Euro Gold Refinery has secured a contract with the Bank of Uganda under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme. In April 2026, the central bank signed contracts with Euro Gold Refinery and Feldstein Trading Limited to supply gold for its reserves. According to Benard Feni, Euro Gold secured the contract through a competitive bidding process.
The central bank's programme aims to diversify Uganda's reserve assets while supporting domestic gold production and refining. However, the expansion of formal gold trading comes amid longstanding weaknesses in the regulation of Uganda's mineral sector. The Auditor General's 2024 report found that gold valued at $3.014 billion had been exported during the 2023/24 financial year without the required permits.
The partnership between Euro Gold Refinery and the Kakoka Artisanal Miners Association is a significant step towards formalizing Uganda's artisanal mining sector. With over 70% of its workforce comprising Ugandans trained in gold refining, Euro Gold Refinery is seeking a larger role in Uganda's gold industry. The refinery, commissioned in July 2025, aims to promote domestic processing rather than relying solely on exports of unrefined minerals.
Key points
- Euro Gold Refinery partners with Kakoka Artisanal Miners Association to support licensed gold production.
- The partnership aims to bring more artisanal and small-scale miners into the formal economy.
- Euro Gold Refinery secures contract with Bank of Uganda under Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
