The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), through its Department of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), has launched a four-day mass sensitisation campaign to promote workplace safety, legal compliance and environmental protection among artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Namayingo District.
The campaign, which began on Monday, brings together officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Uganda Police Force. The initiative aims to educate miners on safe mining practices, responsible handling of hazardous chemicals and compliance with Uganda’s mining laws.
Speaking at the launch, Dalton Bakisuula from the MGLSD’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health said the campaign is intended to address knowledge gaps that have left many artisanal miners exposed to workplace hazards and unsafe chemical handling.
“Our presence here is part of a long-standing chemical safety and security programme implemented by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health. The programme promotes the safe use of chemicals in workplaces across the country,” Bakisuula said.
He noted that the ministry expanded its inspections to include artisanal mining sites after discovering that many operators in the informal mining sector lacked adequate knowledge of occupational safety and health standards.
“As we carried out our inspections, we realised there was a need to include the informal mining sector in our interventions because many artisanal miners were operating without sufficient knowledge of workplace safety and health,” he said.
Bakisuula emphasised that occupational safety regulations apply to all workplaces, including mining sites, factories, schools and manufacturing industries, requiring both employers and workers to observe safety standards.
The campaign is also focusing on legal compliance in the mining sector, with security agencies warning that illegal mining continues to claim lives and undermine government efforts to regulate the industry.
Cephus Wanjala, the Zonal Commander of the Police Minerals Protection Unit for the Eastern Zone, said illegal mining remains a major challenge in Namayingo, exposing miners to fatal accidents and unnecessary risks.
“The law requires anyone operating as an artisanal miner to be recognised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Those operating outside the law are considered illegal miners, just like people smuggling goods across the border without authorisation,” ASP Wanjala said.
He revealed that government, working with security agencies, has shut down several illegal mining sites operating without licences and urged miners to regularise their operations by obtaining the necessary approvals.
Wanjala also disclosed that the District Mineral Police has engaged officials from Geo-Axis Limited regarding the company’s exploration licence issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, which authorises it to undertake mineral exploration in the area.
Meanwhile, the Acting Chief Administrative Officer of Namayingo District raised concern over the growing involvement of children in mining activities, describing child labour as a violation of children’s rights to education, protection and development.
He urged parents and mining operators to keep children away from mining sites and ensure they remain in school.
The four-day sensitisation campaign is expected to equip artisanal miners with knowledge on occupational health and safety, environmental conservation, lawful mining operations and workers’ rights as the government seeks to formalise the artisanal mining sector, reduce workplace accidents and curb illegal mining.
