Gold exports surge, but no revenue benefit, civil society warns (opens original article in a new tab)

Uganda's gold exports surged to USD 5.8 billion in 2025, surpassing coffee as the main export, but civil society warns that limited tax collection and fixed levies prevent the country from reaping revenue benefits. Key companies have accrued large tax liabilities without payment, and the taxation system is criticized for not adapting to price changes, leaving communities without direct benefits from mining activities.

• Uganda's gold exports surpassed coffee as the leading export in 2025, reaching USD 5.8 billion compared to coffee's USD 3.5 billion
• Several gold-exporting companies in Uganda have accumulated significant tax assessments but paid little or nothing, according to civil society organizations
• Uganda's gold taxation regime includes a fixed export levy of USD 200 per kilogram, which civil society argues does not keep pace with rising international gold prices