How corruption undermines investment in Uganda’s mining sector

Jun 6, 20170

A school dropout is seen mining sand on river Nile in Kayunga district, about 74km (46 miles) northeast of Kampala, Uganda’s capital on November 6, 2011. In Busaana Sub-county alone, at least 300 children are engaged in sand mining. Children usually descend in the middle of the waters, scoop the sand which they transport on the boats to the river banks from where it's sold at between Shs150,000 (USD 57) and Shs180,000 (USD 69) depending on the size of the lorry truck Local media reports. According to the education ministry, 90,000 learners registered under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) have dropped out of school for different reasons including river sand-mining. Edward Echwalu/Reuters

How corruption, mismanagement and political influence is undermining investment in Uganda’s mining sector and threatening people and environment

Uganda is rich in natural resource wealth such as gold, tin and phosphate that could create jobs and support the country’s developing economy by generating tax revenues.

However, our 18-month long investigation has exposed endemic corruption and mismanagement in the country’s fledgling mining sector that means crooked officials, and international investors are profiting at the expense of Uganda’s people, environment and economy.

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Source: Global Witness Report