Residents of Kassanda District in central Uganda are raising alarm over growing heaps of mine waste that they say are poisoning their water sources, degrading farmland, and threatening their health. The waste, left behind by years of gold mining in areas such as Kitumbi, Bukuya, and Makokoto, has become both an environmental and public health crisis.
The once-green hills of Kassanda are now dotted with piles of mining tailings some rising as high as fifteen metres stretching across several acres of land. When it rains, the heaps erode and release runoff suspected to contain mercury, a highly toxic metal used by artisanal miners to extract gold. This contaminated water seeps into streams and wetlands, which serve as the main sources of water for surrounding communities.
Locals say the effects are already visible. “We live a compromised life because of the toxic waste deposits that contain mercury. It finds its way into our water and crops,” said one resident of Kitumbi Sub-county. Farmers claim that some soils have turned infertile, while others fear long-term health impacts such as skin irritation, stomach complications, and unknown chronic diseases that could emerge over time.
Environmental activists warn that the issue could worsen if urgent action is not taken. The Nature Redemption Awareness Initiative, an environmental advocacy group, reports that mercury pollution in Kassanda poses serious risks not only to human life but also to the ecosystem. The group notes that mercury can enter the food chain through contaminated soil and water, eventually accumulating in plants, fish, and livestock consumed by humans.
“People may not see the danger immediately,” said one activist. “But the effects of mercury are slow and long-lasting it damages the brain, kidneys, and nervous system even in small doses.”
Local authorities acknowledge the seriousness of the issue but admit they lack the capacity to manage it fully. Kassanda District Chairperson Henry Ssempebwa said that while the district can raise awareness and monitor mining sites, enforcing safer mining methods and cleaning up contaminated areas requires intervention from the central government. “The problem is beyond our budget. We need national agencies to step in and enforce mercury-free technologies,” he said.
Despite the risks, artisanal miners many of whom depend on small-scale mining for survival continue to use mercury because it is cheap and easily accessible. Uganda, a signatory to the global Minamata Convention on Mercury, has committed to phasing out its use. However, limited awareness and the high cost of modern extraction equipment have slowed progress.
Some miners are beginning to explore alternative solutions, such as recycling mine waste into construction materials like bricks or paving blocks. “If we can convert this waste into useful materials, it will help reduce the pollution and create jobs for the community,” said a miner from Bukuya. Others are calling for government-supported training on safer, mercury-free mining techniques.
Experts say the situation in Kassanda is a microcosm of a larger challenge facing Uganda and other African countries: balancing economic growth with environmental protection. While gold mining has provided income and employment for thousands, the lack of proper waste management threatens to turn these mining zones into long-term environmental disasters.
If unchecked, the contamination could lead to widespread health crises, lower agricultural productivity, and permanent water pollution. For now, residents continue to live with uncertainty drinking from the same streams that carry the waste, farming in contaminated soils, and waiting for action that may determine the future of their community.
In essence, the Kassanda story is a warning about the high price of unregulated mining. Without strong enforcement, investment in cleaner technologies, and community education, Uganda risks sacrificing both its environment and the wellbeing of its people in pursuit of short-term gains from gold.