Kampala, Uganda – July 8–21, 2025

Have you ever held a raw stone in your hand and wondered what treasure might lie within? What story it could tell? What value it could unlock — not just for your wallet, but for your future?

This July, that question gets a serious answer.

The Gemmological and Geosciences Institute of Uganda, in partnership with African Alchemy Gems & Jewellery Ltd and Eco Concrete Ltd, is launching a hands-on, two-week gemstone training in Kiwatule, Kampala. It’s designed to take everyday Ugandans from curiosity to craft, and from mining to market.

Whether you’re a youth looking for a skill that pays, a young woman seeking a creative, empowering profession, a jewellery maker wanting to polish your art, a small-scale miner tired of middlemen, or even a mineral police officer or immigration worker wanting to better understand the sector, his course is for you.

Why This Training Matters Now

Uganda is blessed with minerals but for decades we’ve exported them raw, only to buy them back in polished form, multiplied in value. The Mining and Minerals Act, 2022 now prioritizes local processing and value addition.

This training is a practical response to that call. It equips Ugandans to own the tools, the techniques, and the trade.

What You’ll Learn: From Rough Stone to Retail-Ready

The training will be led by Mr. James Mazimba, a highly respected Zambian gemmologist and lapidary master with 28+ years of experience. He has trained women miners, built regional expertise, and holds top certifications from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and beyond.

Over two weeks, you’ll cover:

1. Gemstone Identification & Grading: Learn how to identify, sort, and grade rough gemstones using professional tools.
2. Faceting: Practice turning raw stones into sparkling, faceted gems for high-end jewelry.
3. Cabochon Cutting: Master the techniques behind polished dome-shaped stones used in rings and pendants.
4. Tumbling: Understand how to bring out shine and smoothness from rough stones using basic equipment.
5. Market Knowledge & Business Skills: Learn about geology, environmental safety, certification, pricing, and negotiation.

You’ll leave with real skills. Real tools. And a clearer path to income.

Who Should Attend

• Artisans and jewellery makers – sharpen your skills and meet global standards.
• Youth and women entrepreneurs – enter a sector with both beauty and bankability.
• Artisanal and small-scale miners – increase your earnings by upgrading the value of your finds.
• Traders, dealers, and goldsmiths – build competence and credibility.
• Mineral Police and Immigration Officers – improve your knowledge of the value chain you regulate.

This is not a PowerPoint workshop. It’s hands-on, practical training with machines, stones, and expert guidance.

Toward a Bigger Vision: The Uganda Gemmology Centre

This training is a stepping stone. Together, the Gemmological and Geosciences Institute of Uganda and its partners are working toward the creation of a Uganda Gemology Centre, a national hub for gem training, certification, innovation, and exports.

The vision is clear: Uganda must not only be known for its stones, but for its skill, integrity, and creativity in adding value to them.

Location: Plot 27, Central Road, Kiwatule, Kampala

Dates: July 8 to 21, 2025

Organized by: The Gemmological and Geosciences Institute of Uganda, in partnership with African Alchemy Gems & Jewellery Ltd and Eco Concrete Ltd

For registration and inquiries: +256706734771

Come learn how to turn the earth into art, and the art into income.

Fill in the form below to register