By Nathan Eyagu 

Kanungu District - Operations at an active gold mining site in Kyayugwe Subcounty, located in Kanungu District, have been suspended by the Ugandan government following a surge in illegal mining activities that has drawn thousands of people to the area over the past two months.

The directive was issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development after officials observed widespread unregulated artisanal mining linked to a recent gold rush in the region.

The announcement was made by Phiona Nyamutoro, who currently serves as Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development and is also the Woman Member of Parliament for Nebbi District. She led the government delegation that assessed the situation on the ground and communicated the suspension decision.

Nyamutoro stated that the affected area is covered under an existing exploration licence, EL00135, held by Shiye Miners Company, but had recently been overrun by informal miners operating without authorization.

“Considering the circumstances on ground, we have halted all ongoing operations with immediate effect to streamline and have the artisans formalised,” she said.

According to the ministry, the suspension is intended to restore order in the area while paving the way for formalisation of artisanal miners. Authorities plan to support the miners in forming cooperatives and acquiring licences in line with Uganda’s artisanal and small-scale mining regulations.

Officials emphasized that the intervention is also aimed at improving environmental management, ensuring safety standards, and increasing accountability in mineral resource extraction.

Nyamutoro further urged miners across the country to comply with mining laws, noting that formalisation would benefit both government revenue collection and local livelihoods through regulated operations.

The suspension has brought all mining activities in the affected zone to a halt, leaving thousands of informal miners uncertain as the government begins restructuring operations in the gold-rich area.