South Sudanese Refugee Student Perishes in Ugandan Gold Mine Collapse

A promising academic future was cut short when Peter Mambu, a Senior Six student and South Sudanese refugee, lost his life in a gold mine collapse. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at the Koro River mining site in Yumbe District, where Mambu was reportedly seeking gold to fund his education.

Sources indicate that Mambu, a student at Yoyo Secondary School, was inside the pit when the soil above it gave way. Despite immediate rescue attempts by residents, he could not be saved and tragically suffocated. Mambu was pursuing Geography, Economics, and Agriculture (GEA) and was described by his head teacher, Hamim Vuni, as a hardworking and humble student.

The head teacher noted that a significant number of students engage in gold mining due to financial constraints and lack of support for their education. “Over 90 per cent of them do this because they want to continue with education, and they are not getting that support,” Vuni stated.

Emmanuel Ngota, the Welfare Refugee Council 3 chairperson, confirmed that Mambu’s motivation for mining was to earn money for school fees as the academic term was set to reopen. He highlighted that the mining site has become a crucial source of livelihood for many refugees facing food shortages, economic hardship, and drought. Ngota also revealed that the mining activities, while illegal and unauthorized, are widespread, with nearly half the population, including children and the elderly, participating.

Mambu’s death is the fourth reported fatality at this specific site in recent times. While two previous incidents resulted in rescues, this latest event proved fatal. Community members have temporarily suspended mining activities while local leaders engage authorities on safer mining practices. However, this poses a new challenge, as many families rely on mining for survival.

This incident occurs amidst a national government crackdown on illegal mining operations. The head of the Mineral Police Unit recently reported the closure of over 15 illegal mining sites across the country and noted that 10 people had died in mining-related accidents nationwide.

This article is based on reporting from the Daily Monitor (Uganda).