Maria Kiwanuka, a former finance minister of Uganda, has been appointed as the acting chairperson of the Uganda National Mining Company (UNMC). The appointment was made by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development on September 24, 2026, following the resignation of the previous board chairperson, James Mukasa Ssebugenyi, and the termination of vice chairperson James Byagaba's appointment.
Kiwanuka's appointment is part of the government's efforts to address governance and management challenges affecting UNMC. The ministry described the changes as necessary to improve the company's performance and ensure that it plays a leading role in the country's mining sector. Kiwanuka, a member of the company's board, takes over with immediate effect and is expected to lead the board, improve corporate governance, and oversee a recovery programme focused on board effectiveness and performance management.
Kiwanuka brings a wealth of experience to the national mining company, with a professional background spanning public finance, banking, business, and institutional leadership. She served as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development from 2011 to 2015 and subsequently as a senior presidential adviser on financial matters. Her career also includes experience as an economist and financial analyst at the World Bank, where she worked on projects in East Asia and Southern Africa.
In addition to her experience in finance and government, Kiwanuka has served on the boards of several financial institutions and public bodies, including Stanbic Bank Uganda, Uganda Development Bank, Uganda Communications Commission, and educational institutions such as Makerere University Business School and Nkumba University. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master of Business Administration, positioning her to lead the company in both public-sector financial management and private-sector corporate governance.
The leadership shake-up at UNMC comes less than two years after the government inaugurated a nine-member board on November 4, 2024, to oversee the company's equity interests in the mining sector. The board includes Kevin Aanyu, Alaba Agnes, Francis Twinamatsiko, Nabasirye Kiwana, Kwatampora Alex Binego Zentaro, Wilfred Kokas Aupal, and John Fisher Kanyemibwa. Recent reports indicated that the Ministry of Finance had ordered a governance audit amid tensions within the company.
UNMC was established under the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022, and formally registered in April 2024. The company is wholly owned by the Ugandan government, with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development holding 51 per cent and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development owning the remaining 49 per cent. The company's role is to manage the state's commercial interests in mining agreements, including equity investments and joint ventures, while pursuing opportunities in the sector.
Kiwanuka's appointment is expected to help Uganda expand state participation in mining and secure greater economic returns from its mineral resources. The government also expects the mining sector to make a leading contribution to the Ten-Fold Growth Strategy. With Kiwanuka at the helm, UNMC is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring that mineral development generates economic benefits for Ugandans.
Key points
- Maria Kiwanuka's appointment as acting chairperson of UNMC aims to improve governance and oversee a recovery programme.
- Kiwanuka brings extensive experience in public finance, banking, business, and institutional leadership to the national mining company.
- The government's goal is to expand state participation in mining and secure greater economic returns from Uganda's mineral resources.
