In a massive, swift law enforcement operation, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, backed by the Mineral Police Protection Unit, has shut down a rampant illegal gold mining operation in Mabuka Village on Bukana Island.
Armed with megaphones and whistles, police ordered an estimated 10,000 artisanal miners and fortune-seekers to immediately pack their belongings and vacate the area. The eviction puts a grinding halt to a chaotic, month-long gold rush that transformed a quiet farming village into a hazardous, overcrowded encampment.
The gold rush began unpredictably just over a month ago when a local farmer, tilling his land to plant banana suckers, struck gold ore. Word of the discovery spread like wildfire across the country. Within weeks, Bukana Island became a magnet for thousands of desperate citizens seeking a quick financial turnaround.
Miners, traders, and laborers converged on the remote Namayingo site from districts as far-flung as Mubende, Kasanda, Kasese and Mukono, Luweero, Bugiri and Jinja.
However, the lucrative enterprise was entirely unlawful. Mr. Cephas Wanjala, the Eastern Regional Mineral Police Commander, confirmed that the sprawling operation lacked the legal mandates required by the state.
“We could not allow these illegal mining activities to continue because the individuals involved were not licensed to undertake mining operations,” Wanjala said during the eviction. “They had also dug pits that posed a serious risk to public safety.”
While the promise of gold offered a temporary lifeline to thousands, the reality on the ground was a looming humanitarian and environmental disaster.
According to mining regulations, open pits must be systematically spaced at least 50 meters apart to ensure structural integrity. In Mabuka, desperate miners completely ignored these boundaries, digging unstable pits right next to one another. This caused severe underground cracking and sudden earth collapses.
The safety compromises quickly turned fatal.
For instance, on May 27, a massive pit collapse killed one miner and severely injured two others and just four days later, another heavily compromised pit caved in, trapping eight miners who were narrowly rescued by their peers.
“We are not going to allow this illegal mining, which poses serious safety and grave concerns, to continue,” Commander Wanjala stated firmly.
Beyond the threat of structural collapses, the site was a ticking epidemiological time bomb. The influx of 10,000 people struck an area with zero basic sanitation. Without pit latrines or clean water access, authorities feared an imminent outbreak of waterborne diseases like cholera, alongside grave concerns over highly infectious diseases such as Ebola.
The abrupt closure highlights Uganda’s increasingly stringent enforcement of its regulatory framework. Under Section 10(1) of the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022, it is strictly illegal for any individual or entity to prospect, explore, mine, process, or refine minerals without proper authorization from the government.
Furthermore, the law explicitly dictates that all mineral rights reside with the State, to be managed for the collective benefit of all Ugandans. Those who violate these provisions face steep penalties, including up to 50,000 currency points (Shs 1 billion), five years in prison, or both.
Commander Wanjala clarified that while Mabuka Village sits atop substantial gold deposits, no mining license has ever been issued for the area. The existing exploration license belongs to a Chinese firm, Zhong Hong Limited.
“The license issued for this area is for exploration purposes only and does not authorize mining activities. As such, the Ministry cannot allow gold mining here because it would be contrary to the law,” Wanjala noted.
As police enforced the eviction, the atmosphere turned somber. For many who had invested their life savings into the gold rush, the closure represents financial ruin.
Saida Nabirye, a businesswoman, abandoned her stable food kiosk in Namayingo Town with dreams of upgrading her livelihood. She spent Shs 500,000 to rent a small plot of land and dig a processing pit.
“I came here hoping to earn some quick money from the gold rush to boost my business,” Nabirye lamented, surveying her half-dug, abandoned pit. “I ended up losing all the money.”
For others, the mine was a final refuge from previous economic crackdowns. Muganda Musa, a former fisherman, turned to mining after the military’s Fisheries Protection Unit impounded and burned his fishing gear during operations against illegal fishing.
Sweating and visibly shaken as he packed his meager belongings, Musa expressed deep anxiety for his family’s survival. “The discovery of gold presented me with an opportunity to earn an income. My future looks bleak; I have no other means of supporting my young family.”
Ismael Bogere, who earned Shs 50,000 daily repairing collapsing pits, echoed these frustrations, noting that his sole source of income has vanished overnight.
The eviction has reignited a fierce debate over local resource ownership. Many displaced youth expressed resentment, claiming the government prioritizes foreign investors over impoverished citizens.
“It is a major mistake for the government to allow Chinese and other foreign miners to exploit valuable resources at the expense of local communities,” muttered David Ojambo, a local youth.
However, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development pushed back against accusations of discrimination. Mr. Robert Mufuuta, the Eastern Region Mines Inspector, clarified that the law does not bar Ugandans from mineral wealth, but emphasizes that order must be maintained.
“Even if you discover gold under your bed, you have no right to extract it unless you have permission from the government,” Mufuuta explained. “The ministry issues mining permits to Ugandans for artisanal, small-scale, medium, and large-scale mining. Anyone interested can apply legally and be granted permission to operate.”
The chaotic evacuation briefly spiraled out of control when organized groups of local youth, armed with sticks, capitalized on the panic.
As miners hurriedly dismantled makeshift tents, these youths targeted wealthy pit owners, looting gold ore, tools, and electronics. The Mineral Police were forced to intervene aggressively to restore order, making several arrests.
“We were tired of the so-called pit owners paying us peanuts,” one youth shouted defiantly as he carried away a stolen solar panel. “We saw an opportunity to take back what they had taken from us.”
While the police have successfully cleared the site, the tension on Bukana Island remains palpable. The government faces the dual challenge of securing the area for the legal license holder while addressing the economic desperation of thousands of citizens now left without a livelihood.