Uganda in alliance with development partners unveiled the planet GOLD Uganda Project

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

Photo Credit: Research Gate

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- This enterprising endeavor intends to battle the perpetual usage of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations
across the nation.

The project is concentrated on making a significant consequence by subsidizing over 4500 miners, and vulnerable Ugandan women at eleven strategically selected mining sites. The objective is to cut off Mercury usage by an impressive 15 tones

Ruth Nakabirwa – the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, supervised over the project launch the planet GOLD Uganda.

Minister Nakabirwa underscored the broader societal benefits of aiding artisanal miners. “If you save 4500 artisanal miners, each of them must have ten family members, and helping them is crucial,” Nankabirwa noted during the launch.

The Minister emphasized the quickness of delivering choices to artisanal and small scale miners in the on going small-scale eliminate the usage of mercury in gold mining.

“The planet is now fighting back and will not accept to die anyhow. We need to do sustainable exploitation of resources that God gave us,” Nakabirwa noted.

In concert to legal support, the Minister emphasized the significance of palpable alternatives.

“Whenever you bring a policy shift, you must make sure you have created an alternative because enforcement becomes very difficult,” Nakabirwa stated.

The planet GOLD Uganda initiative is part of the global planet GOLD program, presently operational in 23 countries. In Uganda, the project spans 11 mining sites situated in across seven districts, including Nyabiremura, Rushaga, and Kayonza.

Lynn Gitu, the project head of planet GOLD Uganda, divest light on the multifaceted method by the project.

Gitu accentuated that beyond decreasing mercury use, the initiative pursues to address broader challenges faced by the sector, comprising gender equality, women’s empowerment, access to finance, legalization, and formalization of the artisanal gold mining sector.

“We want to support artisanal and small-scale miners in the gold sector of the county to come together and cooperate in legal entities like cooperatives, associations, companies limited by shares and partnership,” Gitu said. The project aims to facilitate access to finance.

“At the end of the five years, the project hopes to create a positive story about small-scale and artisanal miners in Uganda.”

For New Africa Business News (NABN) Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent