Three killed after abandoned gold mine collapses in Namayingo

What the report says

The Observer reported that three people died after an abandoned gold mine collapsed in Namayingo district in eastern Uganda, trapping artisanal miners who had reportedly entered the site to search for gold. The collapse happened in Mabuka village, Bukana sub-county, at a mine the report says had been officially closed because of safety concerns.

According to the report, residents said an unknown number of miners were underground extracting unprocessed gold when the pit gave way. Some people are said to have escaped and left the scene, while others were buried under debris. The deceased had not yet been identified, and their bodies were taken to Buyinja Health Centre IV mortuary for postmortem examinations.

Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha confirmed the incident to The Observer. He said one miner was rescued alive and was receiving treatment at Buyinja Health Centre IV. Police fire and rescue teams had begun another search to determine whether additional people remained trapped, while investigations were continuing.

The Observer cited residents who said the Mabuka mine was closed last year after repeated accidents linked to unsafe mining practices. They described a lack of protective gear, safety rules and effective supervision, and urged stronger enforcement because miners allegedly return to closed sites after authorities leave. The incident highlights the risks around informal and abandoned mining sites, where weak oversight and unsafe conditions can quickly turn illegal extraction into a fatal emergency.