GOLD MINING BANNED OVER SCHOOL DROPOUTS

By ASUMAN MUSOBYA

NAMAYINGO.

Authorities in Namayingo district have banned illegal mining of gold following a noticeable decline in the number of pupils turning up for school.

Most children of school going age opt to forego school for employment to ferry soil which is normally dug up to extract gold particles. Others are employed on grinding machines. Those employed earn between Shs5,000 and Shs10,000 for a day’s work.

Namayingo Resident District Commissioner, Mr Sylvester Epira, told Daily Monitor on Sunday that the decision was reached during a recent meeting of the district security committee after it was established that children of school going age have opted to work in gold fields instead of going to school.

“Whoever wants to continue with the mining has to seek permission from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. That way they can conform to the laws of Uganda and stop recruiting young children below the age of 18 who are meant to be in school to work as casual labourers in the mines,” he said.

Namayingo District education officer , Mr Kaawo Kawere, told Daily Monitor that the exact number of children who have dropped out of school this year alone is yet to be established, but hastened to add that “it is very high,” especially in Nakudi and Bude villages where most of the illegal gold mining takes place.

As a result, he says, operations in Namavundu, Bugoma, Kifuyo, Banda and Nsango Primary Schools have virtually grounded to a halt, a situation which the RDC says must be decisively dealt with.
In March 2014, former RDC of Namayingo, Mr Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, closed down 4 government-aided primary schools on grounds having high teacher student ratio.
CREDIT: MONITOR