About KASSMA
Kitanda Artisanal and Small Scale
Miners Association Ltd
KASSMA is a community-based miners' association located in Kitanda, Kiruuma Subcounty, Mubende District, Uganda. Established to organise, empower, and professionalize artisanal and small-scale miners through responsible mining practices, financial inclusion, and structured market access.
Our association brings together miners, gold processors, traders, and service providers under one coordinated framework that promotes transparency, safety, environmental responsibility, and sustainable economic growth.
Our Vision
A prosperous, safe, and inclusive mining community where gold wealth uplifts miners, processors, buyers, and the wider community while protecting the environment for future generations.
Our Mission
To organise artisanal and small-scale miners into a professional association that ensures fair trade, environmental sustainability, social protection, and long-term community development.
Our Core Values
Integrity
Honesty, accountability, and transparency in all our dealings with members, partners, and regulators.
Inclusion
Welcoming all miners, processors, and traders regardless of gender, age, or background into our community.
Sustainability
Promoting environmentally responsible mining that preserves natural resources for generations to come.
Empowerment
Investing in training and financial inclusion to help every member grow professionally and economically.
Background & History
Formation of the Association
Artisanal miners in Kitanda, Kiruuma Subcounty began organising informally to address shared challenges including unsafe working conditions, exploitation by middlemen, and lack of mining licenses.
Official Registration
KASSMA was officially registered as Kitanda Artisanal and Small Scale Miners Association Ltd, enabling formal engagement with government bodies and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
Launch of the KASSMA SACCO
KASSMA launched its Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), providing affordable loans, organised savings, and financial literacy training to miners and their families in Mubende District.
Gold Aggregation Centre & Digital Systems
KASSMA operationalised a gold aggregation centre with transparent weighing and certified pricing, plus a digital member management system for receipts, SACCO accounts, and gold transaction tracking.
Growing Community Impact
KASSMA now has over 500 registered members across Kiruuma Subcounty and neighbouring areas, continuing to expand services, advocate for miners' rights, and build a model artisanal mining community in Mubende District.