As the November 3rd, 20021 deadline given by President Yoweri Museveni draws near ,thousands of artisanal miners have peacefully vacated the Kisiita gold mining site in Kassanda District to allow the government selected investor, Kisiita Mining Company Ltd take over the mine.
Early this year President Yoweri Museveni gave an estimated 30,000 local artisan miners a six month grace period and set a deadline of November 3rd ,2021 for them to have vacated the mines which are being managed under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development .
Investigations by ugandaupdatenews.com reporters have revealed that since the presidential directive many of the affected artisan miners have since left the mines peacefully to pave way for the large scale commercial development of the mines by a private investor .
Recently , Police Spokesman Fred Enanga told a stakeholders meeting which involved the Ministry of Energy’s Directorate if Geological Surveys and Mines (DGSM), Uganda Revenue Authority, NEMA, Operation Wealth Creation and the Police that “tangible results” have been achieved in having the local artisans leave the mines.
“The Police Mineral Protection Unit, has since established a detach at Kisiita Mines, and are tracking compliance, to determine if the six months grace period, which lapses on the November, 3 is being followed. We are consistently keeping illegal miners off the site, ensuring no violence at the site and overseeing the removal of gold processing tanks belonging to the illegal miners,”Enanga said.
“With only eight days remaining, we want to greatly thank all stakeholders but in particular, Kitumbi Artisanal Miners Association, for prevailing over their pit miners and ensuring they left the mining site peacefully. All miners vacating the area are being issued with clearance certificate.”
The police spokesperson noted that with a few days to the November, 3 date, almost all artisanal miners have vacated the gold mine at Kisiita and only waiting to hand over to the investor.
On November, 3, we expect to fully handover the mining site to Kisiita Mining Company Ltd, which was granted a mining lease for 21 years, to carry out prospecting, exploration and mining of gold, over an area of 873 hectares, in accordance with the Mining Act,”Enanga said.
What the Ministry of Energy is doing
The Ministry of Energy seeks to develop the mining industry to foster socio-economic transformation and poverty eradication. This goal is clearly stated in the Mining and Mineral Policy for Uganda 2018 and the ministry is e committed to achieving it.
Energy Ministry is also committed to ensuring efficient, equitable, accountable and transparent management of mineral revenues. The ministry has improved the mineral licensing process by transitioning into a fully online platform. This will go a long way in ensuring transparency and efficiency as well as reduce bureaucracy and the perceived corruption.
