Kaabong gold mines claim fourth victim in one month

KAABONG - Two more people have died in a gold mine pit collapse barely a month after three artisanal miners were buried alive at Sokodu village, Morulem parish in Kaabong East Sub-County, Kaabong district on March 22.

The latest night incident took place on Sunday, April 26, in Loriwo village, Lokanayona parish, Loyoro Sub-County.

The dead have been identified as 32-year-old Kiyonga Longole of Kakutatom village and Nangiro Lokubal, aged 26, who hails from Logutoo village, the same Kotome parish, also in Lodiko Sub County.

Their colleague, who had taken a break, reported that the pit caved in, suffocating the colleagues.

Findings indicate that around 8.30pm, a trio illegally entered a gold pit belonging to the neighbouring camp with intentions of stealing the gold from the sandy/loam soils.

Meanwhile, Mike Longole, the police public relations officer for the Karamoja sub-region, said that a case of rash and negligent driving has been reported at Loyoro police post vide SD ref: 14/26/04/2026.

He cautioned the artisanal miners against unauthorised entry into mining pits, saying that it’s criminal and poses extreme risk to life.

“Artisanal miners must only operate in licensed/ gazetted areas,” Longole stated, asking them to adhere to safety controls issued by the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines.

He further asked miners to suspend mining activities due to unrelenting rains in the sub-region, saying the heavy downpours have loosened the soil, posing a high risk of pot collapse.

He urged local leaders to regulate mining activities and also emphasise awareness creation on safety measures.

The incident adds to the concerns about the safety of illegal miners in Karamoja.
An estimated 18000-25000 people are holed up in the mining areas in various areas in the Karamoja sub-region.

Poverty and climate instability have fueled migrations into the mining areas located in Kaabong, Abim and Moroto districts.

Others include districts like Amudat and Nabilatuk.

Background

Hundreds of thousands in the Karamoja subregion operate communally, open up tunnels and pits where men work as female miners pan the soil for gold.

Karamoja sub-region is endowed with considerable untapped deposits of gold, uranium, iron, and Marble/limestone.

So far, the government has conducted a successful geophysical survey in the last four years that has ascertained several rare minerals in the sub-region.

An estimated 18000-25000 people are holed up in the mining areas in various areas in the Karamoja sub-region.

Poverty and climate instability have fueled migrations into the mining areas located in Kaabong, Abim and Moroto districts.

Others include districts like Amudat and Nabilatuk.

However, hundreds of thousands operate communally, opening up tunnels and pits as female miners pan the soil for gold.

A survey conducted indicates that the back-aching activity, miners earn meagre incomes compared to the demands of the families surviving on less than a dollar.

Karamoja sub-region, the poorest in the country, is endowed with considerable untapped deposits of gold, uranium, iron, and Marble/limestone.

So far, the government has conducted a successful geophysical survey in the last four years that has ascertained several rare minerals in the sub-region.

Today, Gold attracts several foreign buyers in the Karamoja sub-region, an issue that forces the former cattle keepers to take considerable risks with the hope of mining gold without acceptable protection standards.