Micheal Longole, the Karamoja Regional Police Spokesperson identified the deceased as Eden Tamwenya 54, Enock Ochieng, 24, Samuel Rotich, 28, Samuel Simatia, 17, and Moses Tamwenya, 24. They are all residents of Cheptakol village, in Lokales sub-county, Amudat district.
Five people have been buried alive in gold pits in the Chepuwar Mining Site in Lokales sub-county, Amudat district. The five miners died on Friday as they were entering the pits to dig gold.
Micheal Longole, the Karamoja Regional Police Spokesperson identified the deceased as Eden Tamwenya 54, Enock Ochieng, 24, Samuel Rotich, 28, Samuel Simatia, 17, and Moses Tamwenya, 24. They are all residents of Cheptakol village, in Lokales sub-county, Amudat district.
Longole explains that the miners, attached to Reuben Miners were trapped in the pit when it caved in yer they did not have any protective gear. Efforts by the police and the area residents to rescue them also yielded no results until they breathed their last.
Betty Chepal one of the miners in the area told URN that many miners have lost their lives due to a lack of protective gear. Similarly, Joyce Chelimo another gold miner said currently many mothers and children are suffering from skin disease due to a lack of protective gear, yet this is the only work available for them to sustain their families.
Francis Kiyonga, the Former District Chairperson of Amudat said the governmnet needs to put in place measures for protecting artisanal miners.
