Artisanal mining is a growing source of labour and income for locals in Moroto District, Karamoja. According to the National Strategy for the Advancement of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) in Uganda, more than 3,000 women, men and children are mining marble and limestone for cement production plant Tororo cement Limited in Moroto district and this number has since increased.
Several corporations have invested billions of shillings into mining projects in Uganda’s once neglected Karamoja sub region creating billions of revenue and thousands of jobs in the mineral-rich region. Despite that, the billion investment has led to human and environmental problems fueling environmental degradation, land grabbing, human rights violations, and, threatening livelihoods of millions of Indigenous Karamojong people.
According to the Uganda Mining Cadaster, the Government has granted full mining leases in Karamoja sub region to four companies – Sunbelt, Tororo Cement, DAO Marble and Mechanized Agro – across 79 square km (31 square miles) of land.
Artisanal miners operating in Nakomol Waret, Kosiroi mining area, Moroto district expressed a number of challenges they continue to encounter while working tirelessly in the mining camp to see that they earn a living. This was during a community engagement session organized by Green Deal Uganda at one of the mining areas located, in Tapac Sub-county, Moroto District.
The members of the mining community singled out the issue of exploitation by some mining companies as one of the greatest challenges they face. They explained that so many times, the workers of these companies, especially excavator operators deny land owners the right to own the stones extracted from their land. In addition, some of the ASM reported cases of unsafe working conditions due to lack of safety gear, healthy exploitations and inadequate wages. A small scale miner and resident of Nakomol Waret highlighted the unfair prices offered by the mining company stating that “loading a truck to capacity costs Two Hundred Forty Thousand Shillings Only (Ugx. 240,000) yet the mining of quarry stones by a woman can take a period of over one month”.
A community member from Nakomol Waret, noted the significance of the work of NGOs such as Green Deal Uganda since they play a vital role in ensuring that resource extraction is conducted in a manner that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, and economically beneficial for communities. He however, noted with concern the bad leadership from some local government leaders at District level who at times misrepresent the community’s interests and instead front their own.
Women Human Rights Defenders, What’s their Story?
Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) operating in Kosiroi, highlighted a number of challenges and threats they encounter while defending rights of community members from where they reside. Many of the women human rights defenders noted that some of the key underlying factors that contribute to the extremely challenging environment that hinders their operations mostly relate to systematic discrimination against women and cultural beliefs. They explained that some community members don’t believe that a woman can stand up to defend her rights and those of the community where she is from. Other key challenges included attacks and threats from community members, and environmental issues caused by endangering operations of some corporations.
A member of Tapac Sogdek Miners Association (TSMA) an umbrella organisation which brings together all miners in Tapac and the Non tribe miners such as Acholi, Bagisu, Iteso who migrated into the region to carryout mining, noted that ‘‘Tororo Cement Limited needs to come out and meet with the rightful owners of the blasted land to avoid compensating ghost owners.’’ The blast holes created were also seen as a great danger to community members and their cattle.
One of the women human rights defender who preferred anonymity, mentioned that they continue to face intimidations from some of the mining companies operating in the area. She expressed that these companies at times stop their trucks from collecting the miner’s quarried stones citing interference from the WHRDs. This places the WHRDs in a comprising situation and in turn forces the mining communities to turn against them with claims that their advocacy is detrimental to the miners’ work.
‘‘In 2022 when we were advocating for an increment in the fees for the miners, the community muddled up this and instead turned against us because the mining company had stopped collecting limestone citing that it was because of me and my colleague who had forced them to stop simply because of our advocacy work,’’ a woman human rights defender narrates.
Another member of the TSMA recounted that in 2022, her and another WHRD had to relocate to Moroto town for fear of their lives after they faced attacks and threats from community members who were accusing them of encumbering the collection of stones from the quarries by Tororo Cement Limited. Subsequently, such prevalence impedes the work of WHRD hence the need to train and equip WHRDs with the requisite skills that can enable them effectively carry out evidence based advocacy through research and suitable documentation.
Another key challenge is the negative perception towards the work of WHRDs both by the mining communities and the corporations whereby HRD work is appraised as illicit and as such, this among others suppresses human rights advocacy and has detrimental effects on individual Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). In addition, WHRDs are at times harassed by some of the mining companies and this is achieved through community members and security operatives.
WHRDs noted that classifying their work and that of HRDs generally, as illicit or criminal is not justified and goes against the principles of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. HRDs play a critical role in advocating for and defending human rights, often in challenging and repressive environments.
WHRDs postulated that all the mining corporations operating in Karamoja, need to be accountable to the community from where they operate and as such, corporations like Tororo Cement Limited need to take into account elements of human rights, environmental conservation and frequently engaging the community members to understand their concerns and ultimately address them for an enhanced and convivial working relationship.
A Glimmer of Hope from Local Miners Association.
It is worth noting that a number of mining associations like Karamoja Miners Association (KMA), provide artisanal and small scale miners operating in Karamoja with a means to collaborate, advocate for their interests, share resources, and address common challenges. Through this Association, miners can enhance their competitiveness, safety, and sustainability, while contributing to the overall development of the mining industry.
KMA was formed in 2008 with the aim of uniting miners operating in Karamoja sub region and sensitizing local mining communities about their rights, helping locals demand accountability from their leaders, corporations and seeking fair compensation from mining companies. Through KMA, miners are organized into groups and have a common voice when airing out matters that are pertinent to their work, like negotiating for better pay, and better working conditions from the mining corporations and also from government leaders.”
Sophie Nangiro, the Vice Chairperson of the Association, highlighted that they have made advances with the mining companies, church and local government in pursuit for justice. For example, the catholic church in Moroto secured a land title for a section of land in Tapac sub county and also there has been compensation to some land owners, for instance fifty-six (56) households were compensated in 2023 by Tororo Cement Limited and these are mostly cattle grazers. ‘‘We need our leaders to come to the mining communities and educate miners about the provisions of the new Minerals and Mining Act, 2022 and how it impacts the extraction activities of artisanal miners in Karamoja,’’ Sophie Nangiro said.
Ms. Sophie Nangiro, highlighted that through their advocacy efforts and quest for justice, women in Karamoja now own property such as land and cattle, something that was uncommon in the past. In addition, through their association, they have managed to lobby for the issuance of identification cards to the loaders and off loaders by the mining companies like SunBelt and this is projected as practical measure for ensuring safety, proper identification and curbing some vices committed by these loaders such as impersonation.
Ms. Sophie Nangiro appealed to all mining companies operating in Karamoja to consider signing community development agreements and MOUs to enhance collaboration and thorough engagement. In addition, these MOUs are key in fostering collaboration, transparency, accountability, and effective communication between mining companies and the community members, community projects and partnerships. MOUs help the aforementioned parties understand better their roles and responsibilities.
The existence of activism and advocacy of women human rights defenders in artisanal mining are essential for promoting gender equality, protecting human rights and environmental rights, ensuring sustainable and responsible mining practices, and empowering women economically. WHRDs work to create safer and more equitable environments for women engaged in this sector while also advocating for broader social and economic justice.
Against this backdrop, to better understand the state, challenges, and livelihood of WHRDs working in the artisanal mining industry of Kosiroi mining camp, Moroto district in Uganda, Green Deal Uganda will be exploring these issues through its Corporate Accountability project titled “Strengthening the Voices of Women Human Rights Defenders working with Small Artisanal Miners in Karamoja Sub-region.”
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