Rights body pins gov’t on abetting human rights violation in Karamoja

KAMPALA: A rights body yesterday called upon government to immediately review mining activities in the Karamoja sub-region to check the escalating cases of land grabbing, exploitation and evictions from mineral rich lands.

Releasing a report titled “How Can We Survive Here” documenting the impact of gold mining on people’ lives in North East Uganda, Human Rights Watch (HRW), said, the local inhabitants whose population is estimated at 1.2 million have become ‘second class citizens’ and are increasingly exploited by private investors—an issue government has kept silent about.

“Government has sold off a huge part of Karamoja to private investors and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult,” Ms Maria Burnett, a senior researcher at the New York based group, noted. “Yet the extent to which people are not benefiting from these activities is much bigger than what we know.”

The districts of Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto and Napak which make up the Karamoja region are believed to contain considerable deposits of minerals like gold, precious stones-marble.

But State minister for Karamoja affairs, Barbara Nekesa, dismissed the findings as far-fetched.

“All activities in the region are documented and government is aware of whatever is happening, Ms Nekesa added, “If government or investor wants land there are due procedures, which we actually follow in line with the law.”  

HRW stated that several extractive companies have gone to the area in the past two years and government has massively accelerated licencing of companies to conduct exploration and mining operations—a more than 700 percent increase between the years 2003-2011.

Ms Burnett maintained that, “this has happened yet government’ ability to support and educate affected communities, monitor the companies’ operations in a politically and economically marginalised region, lags behind.”

The region is represented in Cabinet by First Lady, Janet Kataha Museveni.

The head of miners--Karamoja miners association, Mr Simon Nangiro, buttressed the findings, adding “the situation is so appalling. Local leaders, the few elites and politicians are conniving with the companies.”

Mr Nangiro, narrated a current scenario where one Indian owned company, Jan Mangal, operating in Moroto, sealed off more than 64 square kilometers for gold exploration, including a river used by several communities.

Attempts to speak to officials from the company were futile by press time. Other companies implicated include East African Mining which started gold mining in Kaabong without informing local communities and DAO.

The report also cited presence UPDF personnel at mining areas of some companies creating more fear in the populace, who are predominately pastoralists.

Side bar

Karamoja has repeated suffered bouts of violence and insecurity and according to HRW has the highest rate of childhood malnutrition and poverty in the country.