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JULIUS BUSINGE | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa has this afternoon (Feb.22) granted a 21-year Large-Scale Mining License LML0344 to Sunbird Resources Limited to mine 8000 tonnes per day of vital limestone at Rupa Sub-County, Moroto District, Karamoja Sub-region.
Sunbird started the exploration works of limestone at Rupa in 2015. It has since revealed 67 million tonnes of clinkerable limestone, positioning Uganda as a key player in cement production.
Sunbird Resources Ltd has partnered with West International Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed West China Cement Ltd in this investment.
Together, they are establishing a 6000 Tonnes Per Day Clinker Lime & 1 million Tonnes Per Year Cement Factory at Nadunget Sub-County, Moroto District.
Executives said the project is set to generate 600 direct and 3000 indirect jobs, contributing to Uganda’s economic growth agenda.
Ambrose Byona, Sunbird’s managing director said, the Clinker factory operational tests will begin early next year and official commissioning will happen in July 2025.
In addition, the mining activities and subsequent cement production are estimated to result in royalty payments exceeding Shs160 million per day of operation, contributing significantly to the consolidated fund according to Nankabirwa.
Upon completion, the cement factory aspires to be the largest in Uganda, striving for import substitution by reducing reliance on importing 2.4 million tonnes of clinker annually, valued at over US$700 million.
President Yoweri Museveni laid the foundation for the cement factory in September 2023.
