Police in Busoga East have retrieved the bodies of two women who died after a gold mine collapsed at Nsango Trading Centre in Buyinja Sub-county, Namayingo District.
The deceased have been identified as Florence Namakyika, 35, and Kairo Nabirye, 45.
Namakyika leaves behind six children, while Nabirye had 11 children. The two women were reportedly single mothers who depended on extracting gold dust from the mine to support their families.
Their bodies were taken to the mortuary at Buyinja Health Centre IV, where they await postmortem examinations before being handed over to their relatives for burial.
The incident occurred despite reports that the Namayingo District Security Committee had ordered the closure of the Nsango gold mine because of its poor condition and failure to meet the required safety standards.
However, some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said mining activities had continued at the site, with some artisanal miners returning to extract gold dust despite the restrictions.
Shaban Kabambo, the LC II chairperson of Kifuyo Parish, said gold mining was the main economic activity in the area, but many artisanal miners lacked the financial resources and sustainable partnerships needed to establish facilities that meet safety standards.
He said these financial constraints often left authorities with little option but to close unsafe mines. However, widespread poverty continued to push some residents to defy the restrictions in search of income.
Kabambo urged the government to introduce alternative economic activities suited to the needs of artisanal miners, arguing that relying solely on mine closures leaves many residents without a source of livelihood.
He said providing alternative income-generating opportunities would encourage miners to comply with safety regulations and reduce illegal mining activities.
Meanwhile, Namayingo Resident District Commissioner Emmy Mitala expressed dismay over the deaths and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of residents.
Mitala urged members of the public to prioritise their safety despite the economic hardships they face.
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