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Energy Ministry Gives Artisanal Miners in Abim One Week to Form Association

Julius Cedrick Ogwang, the KAKOKA Gold Miner’s Association Executive Director says during their meeting held at state house Nakasero, attended by officials from the state house and the energy ministry, they were directed to organize all artisanal miners in one association within one week.
22 Jan 2025 11:17
Okemer gold mining site that was closed by the government

Audio 2

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has urged the artisanal gold miners in Okemer, Abim district to form one association before resuming mining activities.

The site has remained inaccessible to the public, after the government closed it and brought forth a string of demands to prospective miners, directing them to among others, formalize their readmission to the site by securing a mining license, putting in place sanitary facilities, proper leadership structures and ensuring that all the vulnerable groups including children, are not allowed into the site.

Last week, a delegation consisting of Alerek sub-county and town council leadership, KOKOKA miner’s association leaders, as well as the top district leadership was fronted by community members to meet with President Museveni, to ascertain the fate of the mine.

However, they could not meet the President instead they had an engagement with the officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development that guided them to the procedures.

Julius Cedrick Ogwang, the KAKOKA Gold Miner’s Association Executive Director says during their meeting held at State House Nakasero, attended by officials from the state house and the energy ministry, they were directed to organize all artisanal miners in one association within one week.

Ogwang said that they had agreed to meet the demands within one week and write back to the ministry giving the resolutions of the meeting and the challenges they need to go back for a meeting with the President.

 He observed that President Museveni was willing to allow people to go back to the mines upon fulfilling the requirements and following the right procedures.

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Ogwang said that they were also instructed to mobilize members for the biometric registration exercise to be carried out by the energy ministry. 

He added that the energy ministry vowed to fasten the process of securing the small-scale mining license that he believes will eventually allow miners to legally carry out their activities at the site.

Ogwang called upon the neighbouring districts of Kotido, Moroto, Agago Kaabong, Napak, and Karenga to send abled members above the age of eighteen years to register so that they could get back to the mining.

He said that the registration is open to every Ugandan who is willing to fulfil all the requirements needed for qualification.

Ogwang further explained that all those interested in being part of the miners' association should be 18 years and above, possess a national ID, as well be able to pay a sum of 160,000 shillings to the association, adding that non-registered members will not be allowed at the site. 

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