The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has suspended Gold exploration activities in Kamusenene, Nkooko Sub County in Kakumiro District after the exploration company SANI DISC failed to produce an Environmental Assessment Report to the government.
Speaking in a meeting that was held at Kamusenene on Wednesday, Jackson Mayanja an engineer from Ministry of Energy said SANI Disc needs to availthe report first even if it was licensed by the government to carryout gold mining activities in the area.
Mayanja assured residents of Kamusenene that Ministry of Energy together with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) monitor mining activities in the area to ensure that preservation of the environment.
Meanwhile, the District Councilors Nkooko Sub County Godfrey Musinguzi and Florence Aricwamu welcomed the proposal from the Ministry saying that gold exploration around Kanangaro River in Kamusenene had made residents suffer due to contamination of the river waters which many residents were using to water their animals and for domestic use.
Bakytbek Asylbekov, the Manager San Disc Company expressed commitment to producing the report in a period of a fortnight as agreed with the Ministry.
