  Using high resolution tender-x-ray resonant inelastic scattering and
hard-x-ray non-resonant inelastic scattering beyond the dipole limit we were
able to detect electronic excitations in intermetallic UGa$_2$ that are highly
atomic in nature. Analysis of the spectral lineshape reveals that the local
$5f^2$ configuration characterizes the correlated nature of this ferromagnet.
The orientation and directional dependence of the spectra indicate that the
ground state is made of the $\Gamma_1$ singlet and/or $\Gamma_6$ doublet
symmetry. With the ordered moment in the $ab$ plane, we infer that the
magnetism originates from the higher lying $\Gamma_6$ doublet being mixed with
the $\Gamma_1$ singlet due to inter-site exchange, qualifying UGa$_2$ to be a
true quantum magnet. The ability to observe atomic excitations is crucial to
resolve the on-going debate about the degree of localization versus itineracy
in U intermetallics.
