Govt school that was closed by gold miners’ activities re-opens

What the report says

Wagagai Gold Mining Company has re-commissioned Alupe Primary School in Busia district, Uganda, after the government-aided school was closed because of disruptions linked to mining activity nearby. According to The Independent Uganda, the school had been operating in Alupe village, Buteba sub-county, since 1997 and later became government aided in 2003. At the time it was shut down, it reportedly had more than 600 pupils.

The closure followed damage and disruption at the old site, including cracks in classroom walls, heavy noise from mining machinery and restricted access after the company fenced off the premises. Local leaders and school officials said the shutdown contributed to pupil dropouts, with some children moving to other schools and others crossing into Kenya. The report also says community pressure pushed the mining company to help restore schooling in the area.

The new school was built on land farther from the mining site and includes a church, water taps and fencing around the compound. The project reportedly cost about US$200,000. Busia district officials said the school is expected to begin formally next academic year, while speakers at the commissioning urged parents to keep children in school and away from mining work. As a broader context, the case reflects how industrial activity can affect access to basic services in communities living near extractive projects.