Mr Gabriel Bio-English

Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project (SMMRP) — Project Technical Officer (2008–2011):

Project activities included airborne geophysical surveys of Uganda, geological mapping of 80% of the country and mineral resources assessment, the establishment of geoscience database management systems, institutional capacity building (staff training, refurbishment of offices and laboratories, procurement of equipment)

Airborne Geophysical Surveys and Geological Mapping of Karamoja Project (GSK) — Project Coordinator (2011–2015)

Project activities included promoting geological surveys of the Karamoja Region, the remaining 20% of the country, mining investment in the region, construction of the regional mineral centre and capacity building.

Mineral Wealth and Mining Infrastructure Development Project (MWAMID) — Deputy Project Coordinator (2015–2020)

I am involved in formulating policy guidelines on geological resources development and trade, promotion of investment in Uganda’s mineral resources, principles of value addition to mineral commodities, skills development and local content, mineral certification and management of conflicts related to minerals. I am a member of the committee on developing Uganda’s iron and steel industry. I participate in designing and planning mineral exploration programmes focusing on strategic minerals to spur economic development and guide infrastructure planning and policy formulation.

• Geology Society of Uganda
• Mining Indaba, South Africa
• United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) Geneva
• Development Minerals Programme

In 1995 immediately after obtaining a B.Sc., I joined the Petroleum Exploration and Production Department as a geologist, where we carried out geological mapping of the Lake George and Lake Edward basin in the Western Rift Valley before joining the Department of Geological Survey and Mines as a geochemist. I actively carried out prospecting for minerals across the country, notably gold exploration in Buhweju, Muko, Busia and Mubende, which have today become gold-producing regions of Uganda. I explored iron ores in SW Uganda and tin, tantalite, niobium and tungsten in central and southwest Uganda. In 2003, I was promoted to senior geologist and then to a principal geologist — exploration in 2016, where I led the implementation of mineral exploration programmes. I participated in mineral investment promotion locally and internationally, still involved in planning and budgeting for the Directorate of the Geological Survey and Mines.

Currently, I am Assistant Commissioner — Geology tasked with developing and implementing geological mapping, geochemical surveys and mineral exploration programmes. Key responsibilities include policy formulation and implementation pertaining to geological mapping, geochemical surveys and mineral exploration programmes; development of strategic plans, budgets and reporting; geological mapping and appraisal of mineral resources for further development, development of human capital for management of geological and mineral resources and monitoring of earthquakes and other geo-hazards to provide advice to the government and the public.