Frequently Asked Questions

Rift Valley Minerals Ltd. is a Uganda-licensed gold exporter headquartered in Kololo, Kampala. We buy refined and semi-refined gold from registered Ugandan mining cooperatives and export it to LBMA-accredited refiners, DMCC-licensed bullion traders, and other professional buyers worldwide. We have 14+ years of international operations, 2,000+ completed transactions, and currently maintain 2,500 kg+ of inventory across 12 countries of active operations.

Our source cooperatives operate in Uganda's main artisanal and small-scale mining regions: Karamoja (north-east), Busia (east), and Mubende (central). Every cooperative we buy from is registered with the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines.

Yes. We hold a valid Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) export licence and are registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA). Certified copies of our licences are provided to verified counterparties as part of onboarding KYC.

We sell to professional and institutional buyers only. This typically means LBMA-accredited refiners, DMCC-licensed bullion traders, precious-metals desks at regulated commodity trading houses, central bank reserve programmes, and regulated private banks with a bullion desk.

We do not sell to retail investors, unlicensed brokers, or any counterparty unable to complete our onboarding KYC.

Typical MOQs are 25 kg for dore, 5-10 kg for refined bars, and 10 kg for 999.9 kilobars. Exact MOQs and maximum single-shipment quantities are confirmed in the commercial offer following KYC.

First-time transactions typically run 3 to 6 weeks from initial contact to delivery. KYC exchange and LC issuance drive most of that timeline. Repeat transactions with established counterparties run 10-15 business days from signed SPA to delivery.

Yes — and we encourage it for any buyer considering a significant ongoing relationship. Facility visits can be scheduled once mutual KYC is complete. Our office is at Plot 8, 5th Street, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda.

All pricing references the LBMA AM or PM Gold Price — the same benchmark used by central banks, commercial banks, and every LBMA-accredited refiner. The final price is calculated as:

Final Price = LBMA Fix × Fineness − Discount

Where the discount reflects product grade (dore vs. refined), volume, delivery terms, and payment mechanism. Indicative discount ranges are published on our Prices page.

SWIFT wire transfer against documents, or irrevocable documentary letter of credit (LC) issued by the buyer's bank and confirmed by a tier-1 correspondent. For sales into LBMA-accredited refiners we can also settle post-refining against final assay.

We do not accept: cash, cryptocurrency, personal-account transfers, advance payments of any kind, SBLC or BG monetisation schemes, or third-party "mandate" payments.

No. We do not charge anti-terrorism fees, clearance fees, commission fees, refinery allocation fees, escrow release fees, or any other form of advance payment. Anyone requesting such fees in our name is committing fraud — please report them to compliance@riftvalleyminerals.com.

Every consignment is assayed by an independent third-party laboratory before export. We work with SGS Uganda, Alfred H Knight, and Alex Stewart International. Buyers may also nominate their own independent assayer to inspect the consignment at our facility or at a neutral bonded location.

Every shipment includes: third-party assay certificate, bar list with serial numbers and weights, commercial invoice (LBMA-referenced), Uganda certificate of origin, MEMD export permit, DGDA clearance (as applicable), secure courier airway bill, and insurance certificate.

Shipment is handled by internationally accredited secure logistics providers: Brinks, G4Si, or Loomis, depending on the buyer's preference and destination. Gold is dispatched from Entebbe International Airport.

Yes. We align our supply chain with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, with specific reference to Supplement II on gold. Our full five-step framework is described on our Compliance page.

Certificate of incorporation or business registration, licence number (LBMA, DMCC, national bullion licence, etc.), directors' identification and proof of address, ultimate beneficial ownership disclosure, bank reference letter from a tier-1 institution, AML/CFT policy summary, and trade references from prior counterparties.

All authorised Rift Valley Minerals emails end in @riftvalleyminerals.com. No free-mail address (gmail, yahoo, outlook) is authorised. We never negotiate through WhatsApp, Telegram, or similar platforms.

If you are uncertain, write directly to compliance@riftvalleyminerals.com with the name, email, and contact details of the person who contacted you. We will confirm or deny the relationship in writing.

Our primary business is gold. Silver and other precious metals may be available on request. We do not trade in diamonds, gemstones, or any mineral subject to Kimberley Process restrictions.

Submit an inquiry through our Contact form with your corporate details. We will respond within one business day with an introductory pack and the onboarding KYC checklist.