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Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defense Forces have deployed more personnel at Mining sites in the sub-counties of Alerek and Chamkok in Abim district following reports of illegal mining of gold.
Between March and May 2024, Alerek recorded an influx of over 3,000 people including business people from neighboring Kenya and South Sudan rushing to mine gold in the area raising security and environmental concerns.
In May, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed the Energy and Mineral Development Ministry to close the mine to allow a formalization tour of mining activities in the area.
However, there have been concerns about some individuals who sneaked into the gold site for mining despite the security deployment. Following the claims, the UPDF 5th Infantry Division has increased deployment to keep it out of bounds to avoid illegal mining.
Brigadier General Keith Katungi, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division said that they increased the deployment at the sites to ensure total protection against illegal mining activities.
Katungi said that they engaged in dialogues with the community of Kakoka village where the sites are located to make them understand the importance of fighting against illegal mining.
Katungi also warned the local leaders to keep politics and division out of the Kakoka mining area because it would escalate conflicts among the communities.
He said that the gold reserves in Abim are a national asset, belonging to all Ugandans and not exclusively to the Acholi and Lango communities.
Katungi said that the deployment aims to protect the national resource, ensuring its benefits accrue to the entire nation.
Peter Adei, the Karamoja cultural leader emphasized the importance of unity among community members and urged them to work together to formalize their operations through proper registration.
Adei noted that there have been reports of division among the people in Kakosa and the neighbouring community over gold mining.
He said that they could only retain their wealth if they united together and pushed for a common goal of securing their resources.
Adei urged the community to consider finding another alternative to livelihood as they wait to formalize their mining groups and get permission from the government to carry out mining.
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