One person was killed and three others injured when a gold mine collapsed at Kagaba Village in Bukuya Town Council, Kassanda District, police confirmed.
The deceased has been identified as Yokana Manishimwe, a resident of Bukuya Town Council, according to a late Tuesday statement from the Police Mineral Protection Unit (PMPU), Naguru Police Headquarters, signed by D/AIP Peter Okello.
Preliminary findings indicate that Manishimwe, together with 17 others, entered one of the pit mines at around 7:00 a.m. when a large stone suddenly rolled down, striking him.
He died instantly, while three other miners sustained injuries and were rushed to Kyabakadde Clinic for treatment.
‘The management at the different gold pit mines are advised to take necessary precaution and avoid unnecessary risks when the conditions are not favorable including the heavy rains,’ Kassanda Resident District Commissioner Phoebe Namulindwa said.
She added that investigators are still assessing the situation.
Sources at Kagaba gold mines told this publication that heavy rains may have softened the soil at the pit, potentially contributing to the collapse, though this could not be independently verified.
‘Cases of wall collapse at the mines are not common but miners are always advised to take precaution when the rains intensify,’ said Edward Benya Kabunga, an artisan miner at Bukuya Town Council.
Kagaba Hills is home to more than 2,000 artisan miners who work in small-scale pits across the area.
By the time of reporting, efforts to obtain comments from management at the heavily guarded gold mine facility were unsuccessful.
The incident highlights the risks associated with artisanal mining in Uganda, especially during periods of heavy rainfall, and the need for stricter safety precautions at mining sites.