By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
BUSHENYI
Five men on Tuesday, February 24, died after a gold mine operating illegally in western Uganda collapsed, raising fresh questions about the enforcement of mining regulations in the country’s mineral-rich regions.
The accident happened on Tuesday at around 15:30 local time in Kibazi parish, Kyamuhunga Sub-county in Bushenyi District. Local authorities say the site, known as Kayanga Gold Mine, was not licensed and had been closed years ago.
Residents told the Parrots Media that recent heavy rainfall may have weakened the soil, causing the pit walls to give way. The men were reportedly working underground using rudimentary tools when the collapse occurred.
Mine ‘Not Known’ to Authorities
The Ankole Regional Mineral Protection Police Unit says the site was operating outside the law and was not recognised in district records.
“The deceased were using rudimentary tools and had no mining licence as the law requires at the fateful moment,” police said in a statement.
Five people were killed: Namanya Saul, 35; Mujurizi Julius, 45; Akanyamba Stuart Koyekyenga, 16; Twijukye Sansio, 32, all residents of Kibazi, and Anthony Nuwagaba, 20, from neighbouring Rubirizi district.
Police say the bodies were retrieved over two days, with the final recovery made on Wednesday.
Warnings Ignored
The Bushenyi District Police Commander, ASP Felix Mugizi, said the mine had previously been shut down and warned that locals had been engaging in unlawful operations despite earlier directives.
Authorities have since suspended all mining activities in the area as investigations continue.
ASP Apollo Tayebwa, the regional police spokesperson, appealed to the public to comply with mining laws.
“We appeal to all members of the general public to comply with all mining rules and regulations to avoid such tragic incidents,” he said.
Wider Concerns
Artisanal and small-scale mining is common in parts of western Uganda, where unemployment and poverty often drive young men into informal extraction activities. However, many such operations lack proper licensing, safety standards or structural support.
Mining experts say that during the rainy season, unstable soils and poorly reinforced pits significantly increase the risk of collapse, particularly where no geotechnical assessments have been conducted.
For families in Kibazi parish, the warnings now come too late. What remains unclear is how an allegedly closed and unlicensed mine was able to operate undetected and whether oversight mechanisms meant to prevent such tragedies were effectively enforced.
