Buhemba collapsed mine closed, miners ordered out

The minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, addresses members of the rescue team and small miners at Buhemba gold mine in Butiama District, Mara Region during his visit to inspect progress of rescue efforts yesterday. The mine collapsed a week ago trapping a number of small miners. Two bodies were rescued. PHOTO | BELDINA NYAKEKE

What you need to know:

  • This comes after an accident that saw several small miners trapped inside the collapsed mine on Monday.
  • By the time the order was issued yesterday, rescue operations had only managed to recover bodies of two miners, whereas the fate of the remaining seven remained unknown.

Butiama. The government has suspended mining at Buhemba gold mine until further notice.

This comes after an accident that saw several small miners trapped inside the collapsed mine on Monday.

By the time the order was issued yesterday, rescue operations had only managed to recover bodies of two miners, whereas the fate of the remaining seven remained unknown.

Speaking at Buhemba gold mine yesterday, the minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, said in the first place, mining at the collapsed mine was illegal since the area was suspended from such activities since 2013.

He said that the mining that was going on at the site was illegal and as a result, the miners were not paying the required government taxes.

Prof Muhongo urged small miners to wait until the proprietor of the site, State Mining Corporation (Stamico), made a decision on how the area could benefit small miners and the government in general.

He said that the government was aware that small miners were using the area as their source of income but safety should be of paramount importance to any operations and the small miners were supposed to follow required procedures so that their activities would be legal.

He asked the small miners to form cooperative groups that would be indemnified by government so that they should be given areas to conduct their activities both legally and safely.

Prof Muhongo directed Buhemba Ward Councillor to supervise the formation of groups.

“I want the councillor of Buhemba Ward to supervise the exercise and it should start immediately on Monday (tomorrow) so that you can resume your activities as soon as possible,” he insisted.

He also wanted Stamico in collaboration with mineral office to survey the area so as to establish its size before the decision to allocate it is made.

Speaking at the area, Stamico representative Lucas Mnepa assured the small miners that after the survey the site will be mapped and handed to three groups which will be licensed.

He said that Stamico had no intention to come and conduct any activity at the site and that was why they were in the process of ensuring that it is allocated to small miners.

Speaking on the rescue progress, Prof Muhongo said the government will make sure that all miners trapped or their bodies rescued.