Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has renewed its call to phase out the use of mercury among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners (ASGM), citing severe health risks and environmental pollution. Phiona Nyamutoro, Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), emphasized the urgency of this move during …
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Mukono, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda small-scale miners have asked the government to allocate funds towards discovering more affordable and safer alternatives for extracting gold. Despite the ban on mercury use, some miners have resorted to smuggling the toxic substance due to the lack of viable alternatives within their means, …
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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government is to resume the issuance of new mining licenses as the new mining and Minerals Act takes effect. The issuance of the licenses by the Directorate of Geological Surveys and Mines had been temporally halted pending the guidelines after the enactment of …
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Buyende, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Busoga North has confirmed that Fredrick Ngobi, the Director of Citizens of Hope Primary School in Buwenge Town Council was one of those killed by an angry mob, reportedly because theym attempted to steal ‘mercury’ in Buyende district. Ngobi was killed alongside …
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Kampala, Uganda | AGENCIES | The Governments of Gabon, Jamaica and Sri Lanka have united in a $14 million project to eliminate the use of mercury in skin lightening products – a serious public health issue, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced on Feb.14 The initiative will support a holistic approach …
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New programme seeks to make small-scale gold mining safer, cleaner and more profitable Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | A new five year project is seeking to eliminate mercury use among Uganda’s artisanal and small scale miners. The project which is targeting 4,500 artisanal miners working in 11 mines …
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Busia, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Livestock farmers in Busia district are counting losses after losing 55 cows to a strange disease. The affected cows present with loss of appetite, weight and die within 5 days. According to the farmers, the meat of dead cattle appears yellowish. The cases have been reported …
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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The persistent use of hazardous substances by artisanal and small scale miners in gold sites is perturbing environmentalists and health rights activists in gold-rich Buhweju district. The groups say that artisanal miners are continuously using toxic mercury to extract minute pieces of gold that …
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Mercury: Slow killer in Uganda’s gold mines Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Inside one of the dozens of gold camps that dot the foothills and valleys of Mubende in central Uganda, the hustle and bustle is astounding. “Saigon City” nestled in the valley of Kayonza; Kitumbi Sub-County is one such camp. …
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