Three people have died after an abandoned gold mine collapsed in Namayingo district, eastern Uganda, trapping a group of artisanal miners who had reportedly entered the site in search of gold.
The incident occurred in Mabuka village, Bukana sub-county, where an unknown number of miners are said to have been extracting unprocessed gold despite the mine having been officially closed over safety concerns.
According to residents, the pit caved in while the miners were underground, burying several of them. While some reportedly escaped and fled the scene, others remained trapped beneath the debris.
One resident said the Mabuka mine was closed last year by authorities following a series of accidents linked to unsafe mining practices. She explained that the Resident District Commissioner’s office ordered its closure after dozens of mining-related accidents were being reported weekly, with an average of two fatal incidents recorded every month.
Another resident attributed the tragedy to poor safety standards, saying miners often operate without protective equipment such as helmets, gumboots, gloves and overalls.
He added that the site lacks clear safety guidelines and effective leadership structures, leaving miners vulnerable to frequent accidents. He also urged the government to strengthen enforcement and supervision of mining activities, arguing that illegal miners often return shortly after authorities leave.
“Whenever mines are closed, enforcement teams normally depart from the scene after 48 hours, prompting illicit individuals to continue mining without any clearance from authorities,” he said.
Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha confirmed the incident, saying the bodies of the deceased, who are yet to be identified, had been taken to Buyinja Health Centre IV mortuary for postmortem examinations.
Kasadha said one miner was rescued alive and is receiving treatment at Buyinja Health Centre IV. He added that police fire and rescue teams had launched a fresh search operation to establish whether more people remain trapped beneath the debris.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.