REPORT REVEALS ALARMING HUMAN RIGHT ABUSES IN KARAMOJA MINING SECTOR.

REPORT REVEALS ALARMING HUMAN RIGHT ABUSES IN KARAMOJA MINING SECTOR.

 A newly released report by civil society organization Green Deal has exposed severe environmental and human rights abuses stemming from mining operations in Karamoja sub-region, raising urgent calls for corporate accountability and government intervention. Titled Promise and Peril, the report documents distressing findings, highlighting the detrimental impact of large corporations like Toro Cement Limited on indigenous communities. Green Deal's legal associate, Ronald Nampura, emphasized that the report aims to support local communities, particularly women human rights defenders and small-scale miners facing systemic injustices amid rampant exploitation of mineral resources. “Seventy percent of land in Karamoja has been allocated for mining, yet much of it belongs to indigenous people who own it communally,” Nampura stated. He condemned the reported evictions of local residents without adequate compensation, which he claims have destabilized traditional livelihoods and stripped communities of their ancestral lands. The report outlines grave environmental degradation caused by mining activities, with pit holes leading to livestock deaths and significant noise pollution resulting in trauma among residents. Nampura noted that the psychological toll is especially acute for women, with reports of increased stillbirth rates linked to the stress of living near mining operations. The safety of women human rights defenders is another alarming aspect of the report. These individuals often face harassment, threats, and arbitrary arrests when attempting to hold corporations accountable for their actions. Green Deal has called on the Ugandan government to enforce the Minerals and Mining Act of 2022 and to conduct investigations into the reported human rights abuses. Sophie Nangiro, Vice Chairperson of the Karamoja Artisan Miners Association, echoed these concerns, stating that many miners are being edged out of their communal lands with compensation rates that are grossly inadequate. “When you compensate people with UGX 10 million per hectare, it’s often divided among as many as seven households,” she explained, emphasizing that the amount is insufficient to sustain the community's livelihood. As mining activities proliferate, tensions over land ownership have escalated, complicating compensation processes and leading to conflicts within families and communities. Nangiro warned that without fair compensation and sustainable development planning, the pastoralist culture of Karamoja is at risk of significant disruption. In addition to these issues, Andrew Byaruhanga, Executive Director of Resource Rights Africa, highlighted the economic exploitation of local miners. He pointed out that limestone miners in Moroto District are compensated as little as Shs 240,000 per truckload by transporters linked to foreign companies like Tororo Cement, while the limestone is sold at exorbitant prices. This economic disparity reveals a troubling trend of local labor being undervalued as foreign entities reap substantial profits. The report further reveals environmental devastation, with over 300 acres of deforestation attributed to mining operations, threatening the pastoral lifestyle of the local population. Byaruhanga urged the government to enforce mining regulations and shift corporate social responsibility initiatives from superficial acts to genuine engagement with community stakeholders.

Go Back to All Posts

RECENT CONTENTS

Jeff Bezos Reclaims No. 3 Richest Title From Sergey Brin After Amazon Store Closures - Runfarbiz Network
Jeff Bezos Reclaims No. 3 Richest Title From Sergey Brin After Amazon Store Closures
Jeff Bezos became the world’s third-richest person again on Tuesday while reclaiming the spot from Google cofounder Sergey Brin, who surpassed Bezos earlier this month, as Amazon shares rose after announcing it would shutter dozens of retail stores to expand its Whole Foods Market business. Shares of Amazon rose 2.4% to above $244 as of 3:15 p.m. EST, while Alphabet shares increased slightly (0.6%). An uptick for Amazon’s stock followed...
Read More
Saudi Giant Acquires 123-Year-Old South African Firm Barloworld in $1.3 Billion Deal - Runfarbiz Network
Saudi Giant Acquires 123-Year-Old South African Firm Barloworld in $1.3 Billion Deal
Saudi Arabia’s Zahid Group has completed its acquisition of South African industrial company Barloworld in a landmark deal valued at R23 billion (about $1.3 billion). The transaction, finalized in January 2026, takes the 123-year-old firm private after more than a century on public markets and stands out as one of the most significant corporate cross-border deals between the Middle East and Africa in recent years.Barloworld’s shares will be delisted from...
Read More
Deputy CDF Okiding hails parade discipline ahead of Liberation Day. - Runfarbiz Network
Deputy CDF Okiding hails parade discipline ahead of Liberation Day.
Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, has commended security forces for improving discipline and coordination as Uganda prepares to mark Liberation Day on Monday. Speaking at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds after inspecting parade rehearsals, Lt. Gen. Okiding said earlier shortcomings in the drills had been addressed and expressed confidence that the country would stage a flawless national celebration. He said some simple mistakes had been corrected and that...
Read More
UNEB SPEAKS ON PLE 2026 RELEASE. - Runfarbiz Network
UNEB SPEAKS ON PLE 2026 RELEASE.
KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda National Examinations Board dismissed reports Wednesday that the release of the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations results has been delayed by a recent internet shutdown.Jennifer Kalule-Musamba, the board’s principal public relations officer, said claims linking the results timeline to the Jan. 14 internet interruption are false. She noted the reports were intended to cause panic among candidates and parents.The marking, verification and quality assurance processes for...
Read More
Ghana Government Security Official Has Arrested 9 Nigerians Involved In Scamming 400000$ from 200 Cyber Crime Victims - Runfarbiz Network
Ghana Government Security Official Has Arrested 9 Nigerians Involved In Scamming 400000$ from 200 Cyber Crime Victims
Ghana's security forces have arrested nine Nigerians suspected of co-ordinating a host of cyber-crime activities from makeshift offices in and around the capital, Accra. Forty-four others, believed to be victims brought to Ghana from Nigeria under false pretences, have also been detained and handed over to the immigration authority. During the two-day intelligence-led operation, raids uncovered 62 laptops, 52 mobile phones and two pump-action guns, the authorities have said. There is a growing...
Read More
Why Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Are Launching a Shared Telecom Satellite with Russia. - Runfarbiz Network
Why Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Are Launching a Shared Telecom Satellite with Russia.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have taken a decisive step toward reshaping the Sahel’s digital and economic future, turning to Russia to build the region’s first shared telecommunications satellite. The project, discussed under the framework of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), underscores the three countries’ growing emphasis on technological sovereignty, regional integration, and economic self-reliance amid shifting geopolitical alliances. According to officials cited by Business Insider Africa, the satellite...
Read More

WEBSITE PAGE LISTS

HomepageAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceLogin| RegisterDisclaimerContact Us
Initializing...