British Mining Firm Discovers Graphite Deposit in Uganda Amid Global EV Battery Race. Kampala, Uganda — 2026-03-09 Lead Paragraph British mining firm Blencowe Resources has announced the discovery of a significant graphite deposit in northern Uganda.
The find could significantly bolster Uganda’s role in the rapidly growing battery minerals industry, particularly as the United States and China vie for dominance in the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
The newly discovered deposit is located in the Kabalega region, a previously underexplored area of Uganda. Blencowe Resources, which has been operating in the region for several years, has reported that the deposit could be one of the largest in Africa, offering a substantial source of graphite, a critical material in the production of lithium-ion batteries.
The news of the discovery comes as the global EV market continues to expand, with both the US and China investing heavily in securing access to critical minerals such as graphite, cobalt, and lithium.
The US has been particularly active in recent months, introducing policies aimed at securing domestic supplies of these minerals to reduce dependence on foreign sources.
According to regional officials, the Ugandan government has welcomed the discovery, viewing it as a potential economic game — changer. Officials have indicated that they are in discussions with Blencowe Resources to ensure that the benefits of the deposit are maximized for the Ugandan economy.
Reaction to the discovery has been mixed, with some experts suggesting that the environmental impact of mining operations must be carefully managed.
Local communities have expressed concern about the potential for environmental degradation and the displacement of local populations.
The full scale and potential of the new graphite deposit is yet to be fully assessed.
Further studies and environmental impact assessments are expected to take place in the coming months.
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Source: Africa.
