NEMA, Ministry of Gender Conduct Joint Inspection of Gold Mining Sites in Kassanda District
Kassanda District, Uganda – The Environmental Compliance Department of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Uganda, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, has conducted an inspection of the Mubende United Miners Assembly (MUMA) gold mining sites in Kassanda District.
The exercise targeted MUMA, a founding member of the Uganda Association of Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (UGAASM), and was aimed at assessing compliance with the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) license issued to the assembly.
Officials described the inspection as part of broader efforts to streamline the artisanal mining sector through strengthened regulatory compliance, improved monitoring, and enhanced collaboration among NEMA, government ministries and agencies, NGOs, local governments, and miners.
The team was led by Isaac Ntujju, Principal Environment Inspector and Head of the Oil and Gas Department at NEMA. They were accompanied by John Bosco Bukya, Chairperson of MUMA, and Emmanuel Kibirige, General Secretary of MUMA.
During the field inspections, the team evaluated mining activities within licensed areas against environmental protection standards. Key focus areas included occupational health and safety measures, management of hazardous chemicals used in gold processing, wastewater management, and protection of wetlands during mining operations.
Following the field exercise, a one-day training program on health, safety, and regulatory compliance was held for artisanal and small-scale gold miners.
Eng. Leila Akello Gonasa, who represented NEMA’s Executive Director, stated: “These practical knowledge and skills are necessary for the adoption of responsible and sustainable mining practices.”
Solidaridad East and Central Africa, a long-time partner of MUMA and UGAASM, participated in both the inspection and the training sessions.
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