The death toll from the collapse of the abandoned Mabuka gold mine in Bukana Sub-county, Namayingo District, has risen from three to five. According to police, the mine had been officially closed last year due to safety concerns.
However, residents from neighbouring communities allegedly continued to carry out illegal mining activities at the site, gradually weakening its structure until it eventually caved in.
Search and rescue efforts, coordinated by police with the support of residents, began immediately after the collapse. Three unidentified bodies were recovered on Sunday, while the search continued overnight into Monday morning, leading to the recovery of two more bodies and bringing the total number of fatalities to five.
Three of the victims have since been identified as 14-year-old Mohammed Suuna, a student at Kifuyo Secondary School in Namayingo District, Sowedi, a resident of Nsango Village in Buyinja Sub-county, and Wejuli. The identities of the remaining two victims are yet to be established.
The bodies have been taken to Buyinja Health Centre IV mortuary, where postmortem examinations will be conducted as investigations continue.
Rosette Nakittto, a resident of the area, said the village had never experienced such a devastating mining accident before. He called on authorities to conduct thorough investigations into the individuals and networks allegedly recruiting young people to work in illegal mining operations despite the site’s closure.
Nakitto argued that dismantling these criminal networks and prosecuting those responsible would help protect communities from similar tragedies in the future. Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha confirmed the incident, saying officers from the Mineral Police Unit had been deployed to inspect the collapsed mine and support ongoing investigations. Kasadha noted with concern that one of the victims was only 14 years old, describing the incident as further evidence of the use of child labour in illegal mining activities.
He added that security personnel have been deployed to guard the abandoned mine for an unspecified period to prevent members of the public from accessing the dangerous site.
Police are also working with local leaders to establish community sensitisation committees aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of illegal mining and the importance of observing safety regulations.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the enforcement of mine closures and the continued operation of illegal mining activities in parts of eastern Uganda, despite repeated warnings from authorities about the risks posed by abandoned and unstable mining sites-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
