Uganda Launches Gold Hallmarking Centre in Kampala to Support Domestic Jewellery Industry
For Immediate Release
KAMPALA, UGANDA — Uganda has officially launched its first national gold hallmarking centre in Kampala, establishing a formal quality assurance system for domestically produced and sold gold jewellery and providing Uganda's growing jewellery sector with the certification infrastructure needed to compete in both domestic and export markets.
The hallmarking centre, operated under the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, will assess and certify the purity of gold articles manufactured in Uganda, stamping each certified piece with the national hallmark that guarantees its gold content to buyers. The system aligns with international hallmarking standards including those of the International Hallmarking Convention.
Uganda's domestic gold jewellery sector has grown considerably alongside the country's expanded gold production base, with artisanal jewellers in Kampala and other urban centres increasingly sourcing refined domestic gold rather than imported materials. The absence of a formal hallmarking system had previously limited consumer confidence in locally manufactured pieces and restricted access to export markets where hallmarking certification is a standard requirement.
The hallmarking centre addresses this gap, providing jewellers with a straightforward and affordable certification process and giving consumers a reliable indicator of the quality of gold articles they purchase. The centre is equipped to process up to 500 pieces per day in its initial configuration, with capacity to expand as demand from the sector grows.
"Uganda produces world-class gold. The hallmarking centre means that Ugandan artisans who work with that gold can now certify and sell their creations with the same credibility as jewellers in any established market. That opens doors domestically, across the East African Community, and eventually to export markets in the Gulf and beyond where certified gold jewellery commands premium prices." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold
The centre also provides assaying services for bulk gold held by dealers and refiners, supporting the broader precious metals sector beyond jewellery manufacturing. These services complement the capabilities of Uganda's commercial assaying facilities and provide an independent government-backed verification option for operators who require certified analysis.
Training programmes for jewellers and precious metals dealers on the hallmarking process, quality standards, and consumer rights regarding gold purity have been designed alongside the centre's launch, ensuring that the broader industry is equipped to participate in and benefit from the certification system.
"A hallmarking system is one of the foundational institutions of a mature precious metals economy. It creates trust between producers and consumers, provides a framework for quality competition, and enables Uganda's jewellery sector to participate in international markets that require verified quality standards. This is a small but genuinely significant step in Uganda's development as a comprehensive gold economy." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold
The government has indicated that mandatory hallmarking requirements for all gold jewellery sold through formal retail channels in Uganda will be introduced on a phased basis over the following 24 months, giving the industry time to integrate the new certification process into its operations before compliance becomes compulsory.
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