Three killed in illegal gold mine collapse in Kaabong

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An illegal gold mine has collapsed, killing at least three artisanal miners in Kaabong district.

The incident occurred on March 22, 2026, at Sokodu village, Morulem parish in Kaabong East subcounty, about 215 kilometres north of Moroto town.

Mike Longole, the police public relations officer for the Karamoja sub-region, confirmed the incident and described it as unfortunate for the families of the deceased.

He said police, acting on a tip-off, responded quickly and managed to rescue one of the four artisanal miners who were in the tunnel searching for one of the world’s most expensive minerals.

“The collapse underscores the dangers linked to illegal mining carried out in unregulated methods,” Longole said.

He added that police retrieved the bodies of the deceased miners from the tunnel using a private excavator from a nearby gold site.

Longole identified the deceased as Lopetok Modo, 25, Chilis Lokito, 18, and Nautu Nangiro, 15.

He added that one miner managed to escape and is currently admitted to Kaabong General Hospital, where he is undergoing intensive care.

Longole attributed the collapse to heavy rains being experienced across Karamoja, noting that many artisanal miners do not observe safety measures while mining.

He urged local leaders to regulate mining activities and emphasise awareness of safety measures.

The incident adds to growing concerns about the safety of illegal miners in Karamoja.

The sub-region, one of the poorest in the country, has significant untapped gold deposits in Kaabong, Abim and Moroto districts.

Other deposits are found in Amudat, with isolated sites in Nabilatuk district, according to mineral geophysical survey results released in 2025.

Gold continues to attract several foreign buyers to the Karamoja sub-region, pushing former cattle keepers to take significant risks in search of the mineral without proper safety standards.