Residents in Busia flooded the Namwakaka stream in Mawero East B Village after gold deposits were reportedly found in the area.
Twaha Tebayise, an artisan miner said some men who were digging a pit latrine discovered the rare rocks.
“We were called from Tiira to verify whether the rocks had gold. We tested them and established that the area has gold deposits,” Tebayise who has since relocated to the area said according to the Daily Monitor.
The village chairperson, HassanWesonga is optimistic that the discovery will change the fortunes of the area which commonly known for crimes.
“The discovery of gold has provided an opportunity for much-unemployed youth to earn income and reduce crime,” Wesonga said.
Residents have reportedly abandoned their daily activities and have camped at the site to earn a quick income.
“I have been hearing that there is a lot of money in gold mining; so when I heard that it had been discovered here, I left the charcoal business,” Rose Kateme reportedly said according to the Daily Monitor.
Pamela Nabwire, who lost her income during the lockdown, said the gold mining is an opportunity that will enable her to recover her business.
“The lockdown forced me to close my business, but I hope to get money through this gold mining business so that I can reinvest in my business,” she said.
Other small businesses including food-vending have also mushroomed in the area. Over 50 food stalls are said to have already been established in the area.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Paul Kalikwani however cautioned the miners to use mining methods that do not endanger the environment and people’s lives.
Sarah Opendi, Uganda’s Minister for Mineral said the discovery is not surprising since Busia is a gold-rich belt.
“All we need is for a license holder to complete the exploration and apply for the mining lease so that they commence the mining,” Opendi said.
“We, however, discourage backward mining methods that we have seen in many areas and the use of mercury by artisanal miners,” she added.
According to a study by the Daily Monitor immigrant from DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania have also encroached the area to earn a living from the resources.
Challenges
The majority of new gold miners cannot differentiate between the gold-bearing rocks and the non-bearing ones.
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Mutwahiru Wesonga told the Daily Monitor that they have been picking rocks but they do not know how to process them for gold.
“We are crushing and picking stones but the challenge I have is differentiating the gold-bearing rocks from the ordinary ones,” Wesonga said according to the daily.
