Two Children Killed, Mother Injured After Gold Mine Collapse in Moroto

What the report says

Nile Post reported that two young children died and their mother was seriously injured after a gold mining pit collapsed in Lokapirio Village, Katikekile Sub-county, Moroto District. The outlet identified the injured woman as 23-year-old Keem Keregai and the children as Calvin Amuria, aged 3, and Nakiru Joan, aged 1. The family was reportedly inside the pit when it gave way.

According to the report, eyewitnesses said the children were buried by the falling debris and died at the scene. Local miners attempted to rescue Keregai, but one participant, Jeremy Sagal, told Nile Post that the effort was hampered by reliance on basic tools such as hoes and spades. Keregai was later removed from the rubble and taken to Moroto Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.

Karamoja Regional Police Spokesperson Mike Longole confirmed to Nile Post that police had gone to the scene and opened inquiries into what caused the collapse. He said a team led by ASP Alfred Olila, the officer in charge of Moroto Central Police Station, was assigned to the response. Police also cautioned mining communities against allowing children at mining sites and warned miners to avoid unstable pits.

The incident has renewed attention on the risks faced by artisanal miners in Karamoja, where small-scale gold extraction is often carried out with limited protective gear and weak pit support. The Nile Post report said authorities are continuing to urge safer practices and closer adherence to mining guidelines to reduce deaths and injuries in mining communities.