TEREGO BATTLES GROWING THREAT OF ILLEGAL SAND MINING

Youths carrying out sand mining activity (Courtesy)

By Martin Anguyo

Arua City

The escalating extraction of sand from riverbanks and areas surrounding bridges in Terego District is drawing renewed concern from local leaders and environmental stakeholders, who warn that the unchecked practice is accelerating the deterioration of public infrastructure while exposing communities to long-term environmental risks.

The concerns come at a time when demand for construction materials continues to rise across the West Nile sub-region, fuelling indiscriminate sand mining despite existing environmental regulations. Stakeholders argue that although the activity provides a source of income for many households, its unregulated nature is steadily undermining investments in roads and bridges that cost billions of shillings to construct and maintain.

Experts note that excessive sand extraction around bridge foundations weakens riverbanks, destabilizes supporting structures, alters natural water channels and increases the risk of erosion, particularly during heavy rains. The degradation also threatens aquatic ecosystems and reduces the natural ability of rivers to regulate water flow.

Speaking on the matter, Terego District Vice Chairperson Sunday Ayikoru described the continued excavation of sand near bridges as a growing threat to public infrastructure and environmental sustainability. “Stronger enforcement of environmental regulations should be made and I urge communities to appreciate that the short-term financial gains from illegal sand mining could result in enormous public losses through damaged bridges and roads” said Ayikoru.

Ayikoru emphasized that protecting public infrastructure is a shared responsibility and appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities in preserving natural resources for future generations.

Echoing the concern, one of the religious leaders in Terego District appealed to communities living near rivers and bridges to diversify their livelihoods instead of depending on sand mining, which he said is increasingly causing irreversible environmental destruction.

“While poverty and unemployment continue to push many people into sand mining, sustainable income-generating activities such as commercial agriculture, livestock rearing and small-scale enterprises offer safer alternatives that do not compromise the environment or public infrastructure” he said.

Offering a governance perspective, Mr. Dratele Sigfred proposed the establishment of a dedicated district supervisor to regulate sand extraction activities, arguing that the absence of direct oversight has allowed illegal mining to flourish.

“Appointing an officer responsible for monitoring extraction sites, enforcing environmental standards and coordinating with law enforcement agencies would strengthen compliance and help safeguard critical infrastructure across the district” he suggested.

Environmental observers argue that the debate reflects a wider challenge confronting many districts across Uganda, where rapid urbanization and expanding construction activities have significantly increased the demand for sand. In many cases, enforcement agencies struggle with limited personnel and resources, allowing illegal extraction to continue in ecologically sensitive areas.

Terego District Environment Officer John Engamvile warned that authorities will take firm legal action against anyone found excavating sand near bridges, saying the practice poses a serious threat to public infrastructure and the environment. “I urge residents to comply with environmental regulations and avoid activities that compromise the safety and longevity of bridges”.

Without stronger regulation, experts warn that local governments could face escalating maintenance costs for damaged bridges and roads, while communities risk increased flooding, riverbank collapse and the loss of productive land.

As Terego continues to invest in improving its road network and transport infrastructure, stakeholders insist that protecting river ecosystems must become an integral part of the district’s development agenda. They argue that balancing economic opportunities with environmental conservation will require stricter enforcement, sustained public awareness and stronger community participation in safeguarding natural resources.

According to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), illegal and unregulated sand mining remains one of the leading drivers of riverbank degradation and wetland destruction in Uganda. The Ministry of Works and Transport estimates that Uganda spends hundreds of billions of shillings annually on the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads and bridges, with erosion and environmental degradation contributing significantly to infrastructure damage.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reports that sand is the second most exploited natural resource in the world after water, with global consumption exceeding 50 billion tones every year. Environmental experts warn that unless sand extraction is properly regulated, districts such as Terego risk accelerated infrastructure deterioration, increased flooding and irreversible ecosystem loss.