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By Dramadri Federick Arua City The zonal commander Mineral Police West Nile Region together with the leaderships of Terego and Yumbe districts have suspended the gold mining activities of a chines mining company over illegal operations and degrading the enviro
By Dramadri Federick
Arua City
The zonal commander Mineral Police West Nile Region together with the leaderships of Terego and Yumbe districts have suspended the gold mining activities of a chines mining company over illegal operations and degrading the environment.
Li Kuang Mining Co. Ltd which was granted a license on April 27, 2024, to prospect and explore gold and base metals in Yumbe District under Exploration License Number EL00383, is accused of abusing the license by conducting mining activities instead.
A joint monitoring team from both Terego and Yumbe districts found out that several trees along the buffer zones of river “Ore” have been cleared down, crops of the locals destroyed as well as forced evictions for their settlements as they are fully guarded by the army donned in UPDF attires as the company moves on with mining.
Leader’s complained of the long term impacts of the devastating activities of Li Kuang Mining Co. Ltd.
“The Ore River I used to cross is not the one am seeing today, I have seen something oily flowing on this water… I have discovered that all our big trees that have been protecting this river are destroyed completely, even people’s fields with crops have been destroyed completely, what kind of human beings are they (Li Kuang Mining Company Limited)… what is the benefit of the landlord, the subcounty and the districts in terms of sharing resources?… As a subcounty we are not aware of what is taking place here, nobody has reached our offices.”
Godwin Angalia the Resident District Commissioner Terego described the actions of the company as sabotage of the presidential directives on protecting wetlands. “Under this land of Uganda, no one has powers to just come and clear the forests, clear land and rivers or the swamps without the knowledge or the recommendation from authorities,” Angalia cautioned.
SP Geoffrey Okema Marvin the zonal commander Mineral Police West Nile Region stopped the operations of Li Kuang Mining Co. Ltd citing illegalities and environment destructions. “Basing on what I saw on ground, I close the operations of Li Kuang Mining Company Limited until we get report from the inspector of mines and the commissioner of mines.”
This is not the first time Li Kuang Mining Company Limited’s activities have been blocked for not adhering to the legal frameworks of Uganda.
In August 2024, the Commissioner Geological surveys and Mines Agnes Alaba stopped mining by the company in Yumbe district and directed them to vacate the area over noncompliance to the granted exploration license.