Namayingo illegal mining site closed

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Mabuuka mining site in Bukana sub-county, Namayingo district, has been closed over what authorities termed as illegal operations.

Down, leaving a hundredth of miners cursing the government over concerns of livelihood.

The closure of the new mining site by the Energy and Mineral Development ministry and the Minerals Protection Police follows two separate incidents in late May in which one miner was killed and ten others severely injured by the collapsing walls in the gold pits.

Uganda Police Force reports indicate that the site has, in the recent months, attracted hundreds of miners within a short period, leading to fears of disease outbreak, crime and insecurity in the area. 

The eviction earlier this week was conducted by a joint operation supervised by Cephus Wanjala, the Eastern region zonal Mineral Police Commander.

The artisan miners who spoke to the New Vision left miners in tears, the majority saying they have been rendered jobless, yet there are no other options provided by the government.

Whereas they appealed to the authorities to allow them to operate for a few days and recover their money, which they said had obtained through loans, the enforcers declined to halt the eviction.

After forcing the occupants off the site, the officers spent several hours demolishing structures set up by illegal gold miners at the site.

A similar crackdown was recently conducted in Busitema sub-county, Busia district, where hundreds of miners were forcefully sent home to look for other means of survival.

Wanjala said the minerals ministry had issued an exploration licence to a Chinese investor, expected to start mining soon. 

Robart Mufuta, the regional minerals inspector for energy and mineral development, warned that anyone found on the premises will be arrested and prosecuted.