Uganda: Two Die in Quarry
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New Vision (Kampala)
5 September 2008
Posted to the web 6 September 2008
Chris Kiwawulo and James Kabengwa
Kampala
TWO people died on Wednesday after they were trapped in a quarry in Lukonge, Wakiso district.
Police said they retrieved two bodies of Moses Mukiibi of Lugazi and Lawrence Kikubira from a mine after they were buried about 70 feet under the ground.
Local authorities told Saturday Vision that the accident occurred at about 11:00am on Wednesday. The dead were residents of Ssekanyonyi, Mityana Road.
"Two people died and their bodies have been handed over to their respective families," Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said. Area residents said the quarry had Tin, Tantamine and gold.
The landlord of the hill where the quarry is located, Francis Wabwire, said he rented his land to an Indian called Patel Nali in 2003, a year in which mining stared.
"They have been mining Tin and Tantamine, they told me Gold is only 200 metres away from where they are now," Wabwire said. He added that Patel halted his operation mid way the lease period on the orders of officials from the geological department.
The Kitayita parish chief, Kato Golooba, said mining had been going on in the area for quite some time. "I am told the district is aware of the project and gets some revenue from them every month," Golooba said.
But the district chairman Ian Kyeyune said he did not know of such a quarry in his district. "We are going to investigate the matter, but what I can tell you is that if mining has been taking place, it is illegal."
Three survivors; Ronald Mukwano, Robert Bbosa and Robert Kasumba said the deceased were buried by white solid substances that they referred to as chalk.
"They shouted briefly and the sound faded away. We ran out of the ditch and told residents who called the police," Kasumba said.
The survivors said they extract black substances that they wash in three phases, pack into sacks and load onto transport trucks to Kampala.
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They said they had gone deep and had to use torches attached to their helmets. Attempts to get a comment from the geological department were futile.
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