Police in Ibanda District are investigating the death of an unidentified man at a gold mining site in Mpasha, Rukiri Sub-county, amid calls for tighter regulation and safer working conditions at mining sites.
The man is believed to have been searching for gold at the mining site when he died, although the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
His body was recovered from the mining site and taken to Ruhoko Health Centre IV, where a postmortem examination is expected to help establish the possible cause of death.
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Police had not issued an official statement on the incident by press time, and the deceased had not yet been identified.
Investigators are expected to establish the circumstances under which the man died and trace his relatives.
The incident has renewed calls from local leaders for greater government intervention in the mining sector, particularly at sites where people engage in gold mining without adequate regulation or safety measures.
Rukiri Sub-county Chairperson John Mary Babisibiremu called for stronger regulation of mining activities, especially those carried out by unlicensed miners.
"We are calling upon the government to intervene and regulate mining activities, especially those carried out by unlicensed people, because this can help prevent similar deaths," Babisibiremu said.
He also called for closer monitoring of mining sites and better safety measures for people who depend on mining for their livelihoods.
"If mining activities are properly regulated and monitored, we believe we can improve safety at these sites and protect the lives of people who depend on mining for their livelihood," he said.
The death comes as gold mining continues to provide income for communities in parts of western Uganda, while informal and poorly regulated operations can expose miners to various occupational risks.
Authorities are expected to establish whether any safety violations contributed to the man's death as investigations continue.
Police are also working to identify the deceased and locate his relatives.
