By Akankwasa Sharifu.
There is a difficult question that authorities must answer about the continued suspension of gold mining activities in Kayungwe, Kanungu District: What exactly has the closure achieved?
When Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development Phiona Nyamutoro suspended mining activities, the expectation may have been that operations would stop until the outstanding issues surrounding the mine were resolved.
But that does not appear to be what has happened on the ground.
From the day the suspension was announced, people have reportedly continued mining. The difference is that much of the activity is now taking place outside the official arrangements, exposing miners to greater risks and making it harder for authorities to supervise what is happening.
This raises an important question: If people are still mining despite the suspension, who is really benefiting from keeping the mine closed?
The greatest concern is the human cost.
There have been reports of deaths linked to mining activities in Kayungwe. Recently, the LC1 chairman of Kayungwe reportedly died, while another person was reported to have died on Wednesday while returning from illegal mining.
These incidents deserve serious attention. The circumstances surrounding each death should be established by the relevant authorities, but they also point to a bigger problem that cannot simply be ignored.
A suspension that does not stop mining, but leaves people operating outside proper supervision, risks making an already dangerous activity even more dangerous.
Gold mining is not a harmless business. It involves underground pits, unstable ground, heavy equipment and other hazards. It requires proper supervision, safety standards and clear responsibility when accidents happen.
This is precisely why an organised mining operation matters.
Why not officially open the mine?
I believe it is time for the authorities to reconsider the continued closure of Kayungwe Gold Mine and work towards allowing operations to resume under the recognised licence holder, Shiye, subject to compliance with the law and all required safety and environmental conditions.
I fully support the official opening of mining activities under the licence holder.
This is not an argument for allowing anyone to do whatever they want. Neither is it a call to abandon government oversight. It is an argument for replacing an ineffective suspension with an organised, regulated and accountable mining arrangement.
The licence holder, police, local leaders and relevant government agencies should work together to establish order.
There should be clear identification of authorised mining areas, proper safety requirements, transparent arrangements for people who already depend on mining for their livelihoods and firm action against illegal operations.
If people own or control particular mining spots, their interests should also be addressed through lawful and transparent arrangements rather than leaving everyone to operate in uncertainty.
The economic cost of keeping Kayungwe closed.
Beyond the safety concerns, there is an economic argument.
Gold mining supports livelihoods. People earn money from extracting gold, while others benefit through transportation, food vending, accommodation, equipment supplies and other small businesses.
When an organised mining operation is allowed to function, these economic activities can take place within a framework that allows government to collect the required taxes, royalties and other lawful revenues.
The local community also stands to benefit from employment opportunities and increased economic activity.
But when mining continues illegally, the government loses an opportunity to properly regulate the industry and collect revenue. Miners remain exposed, and the local economy operates in uncertainty.
It is difficult to understand the long-term benefit of maintaining a closure that appears unable to stop the very activity it was intended to suspend.
Government must move from suspension to a lasting solution.
Of course, the concerns that led to the suspension should not simply be dismissed. If there are outstanding disagreements over the licence, ownership of mining areas, environmental protection or the conduct of the licence holder, they must be addressed.
The government has a responsibility to protect the interests of local people, enforce mining laws and ensure that mineral resources are managed responsibly.
But indefinite closure cannot be the only answer.
Authorities should bring all the concerned parties together, resolve outstanding issues and establish clear operating conditions. The licence holder must be held accountable, just as miners and other stakeholders must follow the law.
Police and local leaders should help maintain order, prevent intimidation and ensure that mining takes place within authorised areas.
The people of Kayungwe should not be left to choose between abandoning their livelihoods and risking their lives in unregulated mining activities.
Kayungwe needs an organised gold mine, not an endless suspension.
The question is no longer simply whether mining should continue. Evidence on the ground suggests that it already is.
The more urgent question is whether it will continue in an organised and regulated environment, where people can work with greater protection, government can collect revenue and the community can benefit from its natural resources.
Keeping the mine closed on paper while mining continues on the ground is not a sustainable solution.
It is time to move beyond the suspension and find a workable way forward.
