By KT Reporter
Wagagai Gold Mining Company has donated bicycles to the village chairpersons to help them in monitoring community challenges in line with company activities for intervention.
Wagagai Gold Mining is one of the largest companies in East Africa, operating in the four villages of Alupe, Amagoro, Agoriata, and Akipenet, expected to produce more than 10,000 tons of gold annually in Mawero parish in Buteba sub-county in Busia district.
Adam Wang, the Wagagai Gold Mining Company general manager, said that they have disbursed 40 bicycles and 10 tricycles worth millions of shillings to the area’s local leaders and to address the mobility challenge among persons with disabilities in the area. This aims at creating a good relationship between the company and community members.
Stephen Wafula, the Wagagai Gold Mining Company public relations officer (PRO), said that the bicycles will help the village leaders to reach areas where there are community issues in regard to the company’s activities.
The leaders will report directly to the constituted mining company Community Grievance Redress Committee-CGRC for immediate intervention.
He noted that, previously, they were registering complaints from community members, especially on environmental issues like noise pollution and air pollution, but they could get scattered information from unreliable sources, although most have been addressed.
According to Wafula, they have resolved to fully engage the local leaders to work together with the company to help creat good working relationship with the community members. They want village chairpersons to be the first leaders to reach areas where there are complaints.
Gerald Okitwi Amos, the LC1 chairman of Agoriata village, said that they have been getting different complaints from residents in relation to company activities, but it has been difficult for them to get on the ground to ascertain the facts as per the community concerns.
Ekisa Philip, the Alupe village chairperson, said that getting bicycles is timely, especially as the rainy season begins; it has helped to address the challenge of a lack of transport among the village leaders and is now sorted.
Kesbart Okamuran, a resident from Mawero, said that the tricycle will help his daughter at least to move because she was stuck with movements due to lack of means.
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