Chinese tour company named in aiding illegal gold mining in western Uganda

A Chinese company, Nanjing Tour and Travel, has been cited in aiding illegal exploitation of gold in western Uganda.

This publication can exclusively reveal that the company’s vehicles which camouflage as tourist vans carry Chinese individuals into some parts of Ibanda and Kiruhura districts where they carry out artisanal mining without government approval and licences.

In Ibanda, the hooded Chinese were spotted at one of the mining area with the Chinese tourism company vehicle parked near a swamp.

Locals said many Chinese are these days spotted in the area with unclear machines that they use to taste soils, sand and other particles.

We could not get a comment from their company as their published phone numbers could not be picked.

President Yoweri Museveni recently said all minerals in the country belong to the people and whoever exploits them should be fully licensed as they do so on behalf the public.

Energy and minerals state minister Phionah Nyamutoro has in the past months been traversing the country to establish the legality of various mining companies.