Buhweju gold miners given ultimatum on illegal operations

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Gold miners in Buhweju district have been issued an ultimatum of three months to stop illegal mining operations or face the law. 

The orders were issued by Agnes Alaba, the commissioner responsible for the mines department in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

She directed that mines that will not comply with the existing mining laws will be closed, and appropriate sanctions and penalties will be provided for non-compliance.

Alaba issued directives on Saturday (December 20) during a one-day media-guided tour in Buhweju mining sites, where she observed continued illegal mining operations and degradation of the environment. 

“Some are still using uncontrolled [methods], and the ministry expects them to comply with the requirements of the law. They are given up to three months from today, and those who will not comply with their operations will be closed, they will be in prison, and they will be fined."

The commissioner said the energy ministry is partially now undertaking sensitisation and enforcement, and come January, they will be out in full swing. 

“So, to our miners selling minerals illegally, we expect them to come and register with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development so that they are formally registered in the system."

The target is to have all artisanal miners registered, formalised, regulated and supported since some are lacking some facilities.

Agnes Alaba, the commissioner responsible for the mines department in the ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (left) and her team visited mining sites in Buhweju district on Saturday

The energy ministry is concerned that the magnitude of the damage resulting from illegal mining is enormous, as it is putting the country into a big loss, including losing revenue. 

“The other aspect is environmental degradation after illegal mining operations, and the terrain left behind cannot support any agriculture activities and, in the long run, the country will have a challenge of food insecurity," said the energy ministry official.

Other mining areas in the country are also facing the same problem of illegal mining activities, and according to Alaba, tough measures are put in place to stop the practices.

There are positives too. Some artisanal miners in Buhweju and other districts are transitioning from informal to formal status. The energy ministry is undertaking biometric registration of all artisanal miners in the country so that they can be licensed and regulated.

Mineral markets

Meanwhile, Alaba urged miners in the Greater Ankole region to embrace mineral markets and buying centres that the government is establishing to boost trade. 

She made the call to miners from Ntungamo, Isingiro, Buhweju, Kitagwenda, Ibanda, Mitooma, Rubirizi and Kasese districts during a sensitisation workshop for the proposed implementation of the Uganda regulated mineral trade held at Ntungamo Mineral Beneficiation Centre in Ntungamo district on Friday.

The workshop attracted about 200 participants, included over 130 mineral dealers and miners from the Greater Ankole region. 

It is hoped that the mineral markets will increase revenue collection from regulated mineral commodities and increase contribution to local and national economic growth.

They will also improve safety and environmental compliance in mining operations, curb illicit trade, increase Uganda's competitiveness as well and enhance the livelihoods of miners.

Ntungamo resident district commissioner Miriam Kagaiga hailed the initiative as an enabler that will help to address challenges affecting the mining sector.

Deusdedit Beinomugisha, the vice-chairperson of the Uganda Association of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (UGAASM), reported a number of challenges faced by artisanal miners that require serious government intervention.

One of them is the need for government to recognise miners as another sector and support it through government wealth creation programmes, and give them loans with low interest rates. 

Another challenge is the delay in giving them a license.