KANUNGU, July 3, 2026 — The Government has suspended all illegal gold mining activities in Kyayugwe Subcounty, Kanungu district, as it moves to regulate artisanal mining and ensure compliance with Uganda’s mining laws.
Yesterday, the Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development, Phiona Nyamutooro, announced on X [formerly Twitter] that the decision followed an inspection of the area, which has experienced an influx of thousands of illegal miners over the past two months.
“Considering the circumstances on the ground, and the fact that the area is licensed under Exploration Licence EL00135 to Shiye Miners Company for exploration, we have halted all ongoing operations with immediate effect to streamline the sector and have the artisanal miners formalised,” Nyamutooro said.
She said the Ministry would support the artisanal miners to form a cooperative and obtain licences in accordance with the country’s artisanal mining regulations.
Nyamutooro also urged miners to cooperate with Government and legalise their operations, saying this would benefit both the miners and the country through improved regulation and sustainable exploitation of mineral resources.
On June 2, 2026, the Minerals Protection Unit of the Uganda Police, led by the Zonal Commander, closed an illegal gold mining site located in Mabuka Village, Bukana Sub-county, Namayingo district, due to serious safety concerns.
Officials said then that the operation was aimed at protecting the lives of individuals who have been engaging in illegal mining activities that pose significant risks to their safety.
The decision followed an incident that occurred on May 31, 2026, when six people were rescued after becoming trapped underground when part of the mine caved in and collapsed during mining activities.
Gold is Uganda’s most valuable export, accounting for over 76 percent of total export earnings. By 2023, annual gold export revenue reached US$ 3.4 billion. In 2022, the government announced a massive discovery of 31 million metric tonnes of gold ore, theoretically valued at roughly US$ 12 trillion.
https://thecooperator.news/bou-launches-domestic-gold-purchase-pilot-to-boost-reserves/
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