- Authorities in Kyesiiga Sub-County, Masaka District, have suspended sand mining activities following the deaths of two people who were reportedly working at a sand mining site.
The deceased have been identified as 19-year-old Fred Kizza and Charles Kasozi, both residents of Kalingoma Village in Kyesiiga Sub-County.
The two reportedly died after a section of the sand they were excavating collapsed and buried them.
Kyesiiga Sub-County Chairperson Mikidaadi Lusiba said the ban follows the deaths at the mining site. He said owners of the affected mining grounds have been ordered to suspend operations until workers are trained in safety measures.
The bodies were retrieved by police and taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem examinations.
Kyesiiga Sub-County Speaker Mudashiru Bbaale said the community is mourning the two victims, noting that they had turned to sand mining as a source of livelihood.
Bbaale called for tighter restrictions and stronger regulations governing sand mining activities to protect workers and prevent further loss of life.
The suspension is expected to remain in place until the authorities are satisfied that adequate safety measures have been put in place at the mining sites.
The Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson Twaha Kasirye said investigations into cause of the death of the two is ongoing .
