Five perish in Bushenyi gold mine collapse
According to Lauben Gumisiriza, a Kayanga resident who was at the site when the landslide struck at approximately 3.00 pm, more than 25 people were underground when the earth gave way
BUSHENYI, February 26, 2026 – Residents of Bushenyi district are in sombre mood following a tragic accident that happened in a gold mine in Kayanga village, Kyamuhunga Subcounty, which claimed the lives of five people on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased have been identified as Anthony Mugarura, 23, from Butoha Magambo; Sansio Twizukye, 30; Julius Mujurizi, 55; Stuart Akanyamba, 16; and Saul Twinomujuni, 25. The victims hailed from the villages of Kayanga, Kyibingo and Kataruma in Kibazi parish.
According to Lauben Gumisiriza, a Kayanga resident who was at the site when the landslide struck at approximately 3.00 pm, more than 25 people were underground when the earth gave way.
“We were in the mine as usual and were about to finish work when the mud buried them. I had just carried a basin out and saw the tragedy when I returned,” Gumisiriza recalled. He noted that the group had been mining at the site for two years to support their families.
“It has collapsed before, but usually after we had already left. This time we were unfortunate,” he added.
The Bushenyi District Police Commander, Felix Mugizi, confirmed that the mining site has been suspended indefinitely to allow for a thorough investigation.
He revealed that the site had previously been closed, but miners had continued to operate covertly. “It is very unfortunate that we have lost Ugandans who were trying to earn a living. However, we established that this site had earlier been closed and that people had erected makeshift structures to continue working,” Mugizi said.
“We have suspended operations at the site until we establish who authorised its activities and under which legal framework it was operating,” he added.
The tragedy has drawn reactions from across the district leadership. Prosper Twebaze, the Bushenyi District Chairperson-elect, described the incident as a devastating blow.
“It’s a tragic moment that we have lost our people who were working tirelessly to earn a living,” Twebaze said, noting that he had met the group during his recent campaign trail.
Beatrice Birungi, the LC III Vice Chairperson of Kyamuhunga Subcounty, described the loss of “energetic young men” as a significant blow to the community.
“There was no rain or obvious cause; we believe it was a tragic accident. They had worked here for two years without major incidents,” she said.
Robert Mugabe, whose son Anthony Mugarura was among the victims, appealed for government assistance for the bereaved families.
“My son had only spent two months working at the mine to survive. The government should support these families because some had young children and new marriages; they were the sole breadwinners,” he said.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Bushenyi, Donanto Kasigazi, echoed calls for improved safety measures and announced that an environmental impact assessment would be conducted.
“These were hardworking men trying to make a living, not criminals. It is painful to lose such people,” Kasigazi said.
He also drew parallels with a recent tragedy in which two pupils were killed by lightning at St Mary’s Kyamuhunga Primary School, urging the community to remain vigilant.
While the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation, the incident follows a series of mining-related fatalities in neighbouring Buhweju District. This marks the second major mining disaster in the region this month, raising fresh concerns about safety at artisanal mining sites.
The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families for burial following post-mortem examinations. Police remain deployed at the mine to prevent unauthorised access during the ongoing investigation.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
