What we do in Kampala

Uganda has several gold refineries and a central bank programme to buy domestically produced gold, and its gold trade draws on both local production and material from neighbouring countries. For a buyer, the questions are the usual ones — what the gold is, who holds it, and whether the seller is licensed — and, because of the region, where it came from.

  • [On-site gold testing](/services/gold-testing) at dealers, refineries and the airport
  • [Witnessed melts](/services/gold-smelting-melt-sampling) at licensed refineries
  • [Seller verification](/locations/supplier-due-diligence-uganda) with URSB and the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines
  • Origin checks against the documents that should accompany imported gold

Rules a buyer meets in Uganda

Mining and mineral dealing in Uganda are governed by the Mining and Minerals Act 2022 and licensed through the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines. A trader should hold a mineral dealer’s licence; a refiner, a refinery licence. The Bank of Uganda buys domestically produced gold through a refinery under contract. Gold presented as imported should come with import and origin documents that can be confirmed with the issuing authorities.

How a testing engagement runs

  1. Brief — send the form of the gold, where it is held in Kampala or Entebbe, the approximate quantity and the date you need, by the request form or email.
  2. Scope — we confirm the tests, the tester, the date, the laboratory if fire assay is required, and what the report will contain.
  3. Attendance — our tester attends, numbers and photographs each piece and weighs it on a calibrated scale.
  4. Testing — XRF, acid and density readings are taken on each piece and recorded in front of the parties.
  5. Sealing and sampling — the lot is sealed with numbered seals; where fire assay is in scope, a sample is drawn and sealed for the laboratory.
  6. Report — the field report follows within one working day; the laboratory certificate, addressed to you, when it is issued.

What you receive

  • A field report with XRF, acid and density readings for every piece
  • Calibrated weights, piece numbers and seal numbers
  • Photographs of the pieces, the readings and the sealing, taken by our tester
  • Where in scope, a fire assay certificate from an accredited laboratory, addressed to you
  • Where requested, a valuation on the LBMA Gold Price