Nestled in Central Uganda’s Kassanda District, the Kayonza mine site is a bustling hub of activity. Managed by the Kitumbi-Kayonza Miners Association, which includes over 40 members and is led by five directors, the site produces between 1.5 to 2.5 kg of gold monthly. The landscape features 51 mining pits, two processing centers, and nearly 30 processing plants. The continuous operations reflect the community’s resilience and commitment to better mining practices.
Reducing Mercury Use: planetGOLD Uganda Project
The planetGOLD Uganda project partners with local communities to reduce mercury use—a major environmental and health issue—in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The project aims to enhance both environmental health and the well-being of miners.
The planetGOLD Uganda project, is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), executed by IMPACT in partnership with Uganda’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the country’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development under the Department of Mines. In August 2023, the project team visited the Kayonza mine site to assess the challenges and successes within the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector. They engaged with miners, community leaders, and stakeholders to understand mining practices and explore pathways for more sustainable and equitable solutions.
Addressing Environmental and Health Concerns
During the meetings, officials from the Kassanda district leadership expressed concerns about unsafe mining practices. They highlighted significant environmental degradation, especially from abandoned pits, and the hazardous use of mercury, which poses serious health risks. Additionally, officials noted that the community is not receiving a fair share of the benefits from the district’s gold production.
Artisanal Mining: A Major Contributor
Artisanal mining accounts for over 90 percent of Uganda’s gold production, producing more than 7,081 kg annually. This sector employs over 31,000 people, making it the largest employer of gold miners in the country. While primarily informal and relying on basic extraction methods, efforts are underway to formalize the sector and promote responsible mining practices.
Promoting Safer Practices
At the Kayonza mine, the Kayonza-Kitumbi Miners Association is making strides in promoting safer mercury handling practices among its members. The Association has established a designated area for mercury use and disposal to prevent water contamination.
Although mercury was banned in Uganda, miners indicate that they have tried alternatives to mercury, such as borax, but these methods have not been as successful in yielding gold. A critical gap remains: miners handling mercury or working in mining pits lack proper protective gear. Speaking to miners during the visit, the Kassanda District environment officer emphasized the importance of encouraging miners to wear protective equipment to ensure their safety and health.
Women in Mining: Breaking Barriers
Women play a crucial role in Uganda’s artisanal gold mining sector, comprising more than 45 percent of the workforce. According to IMPACT’s research, artisanal gold mining is a lucrative source of income for women, with earnings three times higher than other activities in their communities.
However, the sector has yet to fully embrace inclusivity and equitable working conditions for women. Often, women are relegated to lower-paying activities at the mine site or receive less compensation than men for the same tasks. In Kayonza, women primarily purchase gold ore, manually crush it, and wash it using mercury.
Sylvia Nankusu: A Case in Point
Sylvia Nankusu, 35, a mother of three, is the primary income earner for her household. Due to the distance to the mine site, Sylvia lives apart from her family and only sees them on weekends. At the Kayonza mine, Sylvia purchases bags of ore from the pits. She spends her days crushing, drying, and washing the ore to separate the gold dust. She uses mercury to help extract the gold from the rock. Her earnings depend on the amount of gold she recovers each day. Each bag of ore contains an unknown amount of gold, and her payment is based on the gold she gets after the process.
Sylvia describes her work as a game of chance because her earnings are never guaranteed. “You can buy 100,000 Ugandan shillings of ore ($26 USD) and get gold worth 13,000 Ugandan shillings ($3 USD), and sometimes buy ore worth 30,000 Ugandan shillings ($8 USD) and get 1 gram of gold which is about 185,000 Ugandan shillings ($49 USD),” she explains.
Sylvia faces additional challenges as a woman in this field. She and other women are not able to go down the pits to mine ore like their male counterparts. Sometimes, miners refuse to sell them good ore. “If they get good ore that shows signs of having gold, they don’t sell it to us but rather the ones where we hardly find anything. Maybe if women were able to have equipment that can help them get the ore themselves, it would make good business for them,” she says. Despite these hurdles, Sylvia is grateful for the benefits she has gained from this work. “I bought a plot of land in Kassanda and built a house on it. I am also able to support my husband with our children’s education,” she adds.
Empowering Miners
The Kayonza-Kitumbi Miners Association is empowering its members to comply with Uganda’s mining regulations and strengthening their position within the supply chain. Members can borrow money from large companies that buy the gold, process it, and repay the loans upon selling. This borrowing capability is possible because the Association holds a valid permit, has registered all its members, and ensures compliance with its rules—an important step towards formalizing the sector. Consequently, miners are not forced out of the sector due to a lack of capital.
Additionally, the Association has established a savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) for its members. This SACCO will become active once the community sensitization efforts are complete, further supporting the financial stability and growth of the miners.
The Kayonza mine site illustrates both the challenges and opportunities within Uganda’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector. Through the planetGOLD Uganda project and the efforts of the Kayonza-Kitumbi Miners Association, significant strides are being made to promote safer, more sustainable practices and enhance financial stability for miners. As the sector evolves, the commitment of the Kayonza community and its partners will be essential in fostering positive change and securing a more prosperous future for everyone involved.
Learn more about the planetGOLD Uganda project.
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