Mineral-rich communities in Amudat and Nakapiririt districts have been sensitized on how best to protect their land, human rights and livelihoods in the face of heightened interest from investors venturing into the Karamoja sub region.
Participants comprising artisanal and small-scale gold miners, local government leaders and CSO actors attended two four-day workshops where they were sensitized on their rights as miners, the mineral licensing regime, land tenure system and particularly, how they can safeguard their space to the benefit of the community.
The communal land tenure system in the Karamoja sub region has often been a source of conflict especially with the unprecedented entry of mining companies that have pitted ASMs and the communities against politically connected powerful brokers who are often the front men for many of these companies.
In 2017, the mining sector saw an unprecedented development when; with support of GEM Advocates, acting on behalf of the marble- rich Rupa Sub County community of over 34,000 people, successfully formed the Rupa Community Development Trust (RUCODET) placing a carefully selected group of elders and local government officials in charge of protecting their land.
RUCODET went on to successfully negotiate with Chinese owned Sunbelt Limited for surface rights to a tune of 1.8 billion shillings in cash and education scholarships to support the community.
Africa Center for Energy and Mineral Policy with support from OSIEA is now taking the model to other mineral-rich communities in the Karamoja sub region in a bid to support them to put in place similar structures to cushion themselves against unfair treatment by impeding investors.
Ojok Geoffrey Odur of GEM Advocates, sensitizing the miners, cautioned that it is only through powerful structures like RUCODET that they can ably safeguard their land and agitate for a share of what is extracted from it.
‘This model can only work if you come together and pull in one direction. If you do not have a common position these investors will have their way,’ he said.
While sharing their different experiences in the sector the issues of land and dealing with mining companies came out strongly.
In Amudat the miners cited a new Chinese owned mining company in Chepkararat village, Karita sub county, that occupied their land after unfair compensation of the locals. It emerged a few selected leaders got money while several others reportedly signed off documents they did not comprehend.
The company manager, Rogers Okello, did not respond to our queries when contacted for comment.
In Nakapiripirit, particularly Moruita sub county, there are simmering tensions between ASMs who have mostly recently migrated into the region and land owners who are determined to protect their lands at all costs.
In the face of the recent developments, it ACEMP is supporting the mining communities to ensure they benefit from the mineral resourcing in the land through sustainable mechanisms like that of RUCODET.