Miners urged on safer methods after five killed in Bushenyi gold mine collapse

________________

Bushenyi district-based miners have been urged to adopt safer methods of extracting the precious metal.

The call by district LC5 chairperson Jafari Basajjabalaba on February 24, 2026, followed the death of five people after a gold mine collapsed in Kayanga, Kyamuhunga sub-county.

The incident occurred at about 4:30pm on February 24, 2026, when the men were mining gold at an informal site, and the land caved in, burying them.

Residents and local leaders rushed to the scene and mounted rescue efforts. 

By press time, four yet to be identified bodies had been retrieved, while the search for the fifth victim was ongoing.

Basajjabalaba commended residents for their swift response.

“We appreciate the community members for their co-operation, which has enabled us to retrieve four bodies. Efforts to recover the fifth body are still ongoing,” he said.

Basajjabalaba condoled with the bereaved families and urged miners to adopt safer mining methods, especially after digging deep pits. He also advised residents to be cautious during the rainy season, noting that heavy rains increase the risk of soil collapse.

However, Nuwe Sula, a resident, blamed the Government for failing to put adequate safety measures in place to protect people engaged in small-scale gold mining.

Police and district authorities were still at the scene by press time.

Rising risks in informal gold mining 

Informal gold mining has intensified in parts of greater Bushenyi, particularly in Kyamuhunga sub-county, Bitooma town council, and Kyamuhunga town in Igara West.

Most miners work without protective equipment and often dig deep pits without structural reinforcement, exposing themselves to frequent land collapses, especially during the rainy season when the soil becomes loose and unstable.

Jafari Basajjabalaba urged miners to adopt safer methods and formalise their operations to prevent further accidents.

He further appealed to residents to be cautious and avoid high-risk mining practices during heavy rains.

Despite the risks, many residents continue to rely on small-scale gold mining as a source of livelihood due to limited employment opportunities.