As Uganda joins the rest of the world in marking World Environment Day, authorities in Kasese District are grappling with a growing environmental crisis linked to unregulated sand mining along major rivers. District officials say years of intensive sand extraction on rivers, including Mubuku, Nyamwamba, Nyamugasane, and Lubirih, have severely degraded riverbanks, leaving surrounding communities vulnerable to devastating floods.
Low-lying areas such as Karusandara along River Mubuku, as well as Kyondo, Kanyangeya, and Kihara Road near River Nyamwamba, have been identified as high-risk zones where mining activities have significantly weakened the landscape.
In response, the District Disaster Management Committee has launched operations targeting illegal sand miners in a bid to curb further environmental degradation. Kikusa Mustafa, the committee’s chairperson, said the district is not seeking to ban sand mining but to ensure that the activity is properly regulated. He said authorities are pursuing a twin strategy of enforcement and environmental restoration to mitigate the damage already caused.
Meanwhile, Kasese District Chairperson Muhindi Eliphazi Bukombi has called on the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to strictly enforce regulations requiring a 100-metre buffer zone from riverbanks for activities carried out near water bodies.
Bukombi said adherence to the guideline would help protect riverbanks from further destruction and reduce the risk of flooding. As part of restoration efforts, Mustafa announced plans to plant bamboo along riverbanks across the district to stabilize soils and control erosion. Despite the environmental concerns, a group of sand miners along the banks of the River Nyamwamba is emerging as an example of conservation-driven change.
In Kanyangeya Cell, Nyamwamba Division, miners have partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to establish large tree nurseries aimed at restoring the environment while creating alternative sources of income.
Mwesige Patrick, the leader of the local sand miners, said the initiative is helping reduce dependence on sand mining through tree seedling production and stone-crafting activities. He also called for tighter regulation of the sector, including limiting the number of people engaged in sand mining.
The sandminers have appealed to NEMA to prioritize sensitization and engagement before resorting to arrests and prosecutions. As NEMA moves ahead with plans to regulate the industry and issue licences to curb the exploitation of river valleys, miners are urging the government to support alternative livelihood projects through skills training and financial assistance.
They argue that sustainable economic opportunities will be key to reducing pressure on the district’s fragile river ecosystems-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
