Quarries get conditions
MUKONO district, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Uganda Quarry Operators Association have reached an agreement over excavation of rocks.
By Joel Ogwang
MUKONO district, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Uganda Quarry Operators Association have reached an agreement over excavation of rocks.
Under the accord, all the 26 quarries in Mukono will mine rocks four days a month, said Onesmus Muhwezi, NEMA’s director of environmental monitoring and compliance.
“We designated Wednesday of every week as quarry day. Excavation will take place from 2:00pm to 4:00pm,†he said recently.
The quarries will also use new technology that does not cause dust and rocks to fly.
“We don’t expect any more complaints of flying stones or vibrations from the residents. If any arises, we will take tough action,†Muhwezi said.
Residents of Buntaba village in Kyampisi sub-county have in the recent past demonstrated over the traditional mining technology used by six quarries operating in the area.
They said vibrations and flying boulders from Cementers, Seyani, Kailash, Wadia and Millenium stone quarries were cracking their houses.
Led by Ken Lukyamuzi, an environmentalist, the residents claimed that their animals were failing to produce milk, mate and produce.
Ismail Kayima, a Senior Two student of Kyabakadde SSS, recently had his leg amputated after a stone from the quarry hit it.
However, the head of the quarry association, George Kyaligonza, accused the residents of telling lies.
“It is a malicious allegation that animals were not producing milk or mating because of the blasts.â€
During a recent meeting, Kayligonza rapped NEMA for not involving the association in licensing new firms.
This, he said, led to breach of the agreed 500m distance of quarries from human settlements.
Mukono LC5 chief Francis Lukooya said the district would not compromise on its residents’ health and environmental concerns.
“We will not watch as war-like situations occur because quarries are at work. We want total compliance with the quarry days.â€
MUKONO district, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Uganda Quarry Operators Association have reached an agreement over excavation of rocks.
Under the accord, all the 26 quarries in Mukono will mine rocks four days a month, said Onesmus Muhwezi, NEMA’s director of environmental monitoring and compliance.
“We designated Wednesday of every week as quarry day. Excavation will take place from 2:00pm to 4:00pm,†he said recently.
The quarries will also use new technology that does not cause dust and rocks to fly.
“We don’t expect any more complaints of flying stones or vibrations from the residents. If any arises, we will take tough action,†Muhwezi said.
Residents of Buntaba village in Kyampisi sub-county have in the recent past demonstrated over the traditional mining technology used by six quarries operating in the area.
They said vibrations and flying boulders from Cementers, Seyani, Kailash, Wadia and Millenium stone quarries were cracking their houses.
Led by Ken Lukyamuzi, an environmentalist, the residents claimed that their animals were failing to produce milk, mate and produce.
Ismail Kayima, a Senior Two student of Kyabakadde SSS, recently had his leg amputated after a stone from the quarry hit it.
However, the head of the quarry association, George Kyaligonza, accused the residents of telling lies.
“It is a malicious allegation that animals were not producing milk or mating because of the blasts.â€
During a recent meeting, Kayligonza rapped NEMA for not involving the association in licensing new firms.
This, he said, led to breach of the agreed 500m distance of quarries from human settlements.
Mukono LC5 chief Francis Lukooya said the district would not compromise on its residents’ health and environmental concerns.
“We will not watch as war-like situations occur because quarries are at work. We want total compliance with the quarry days.â€