Rukungiri – The Rukungiri district top leadership in conjunction with the office of the Resident district commissioner (RDC) have suspended Sand mining activities along River Rushaya in Bwambara Sub County Rukungiri district with an intention of protecting the environment and safety of the bridge.
This economic activity has been employing many people in the district, meaning that the closure will affect the well being and standards of living of many families.
During today’s 3rd.Feb.2026 operation, the Rukungiri district resident commissioner Mr Buroni Kikanshemeza (RDC) said ‘’all sand mines along river Rushaya will remain closed until standard sand mining measures are put in place because the way how this activity is damaging the environment gives us no option but to temporarily close the sand mines ‘’.
The RDC noted the closure of sand mines will last for as long as it takes the security committee to sensitize the communities about the safe sand mining practices and ensuring that regulations put in place are followed.
‘’protecting the environment is a presidential directive and the president has been advising us to protect the environment if we want to survive longer. It is from this background that I order you to stop executing sand from this river immediately because the bridge is at a risk of collapsing anytime from now and in case you are caught you will be taken to courts of law and face it hot ‘’.Mr Buroni added.
He added that ‘’ sand mining near the bridge weakens the riverbanks and exposes the bridge to possible destruction therefore protecting critical infrastructure and preserving the environment must take priority’’.
The Bwambara sub- county chief Mr Himbisa Emmanuel welcomed the suspension, stressing that the importance of the bridge to the community outweighs the small revenue generated from sand mining.
‘’ The bridge as a vital link for transport, trade, and access to essential services and therefore cannot be compared with the small money from selling sand, adding that continuous sand mining has made the riverbed dangerously deep and compromised the bridge’s safety. I therefore welcome this directive’’.
Reaction of Sand Miners and dealers.
Ms Mbabazi Musiime, 46, a single mother of 4 and a Sand dealer said sand mining has been her key source of income.
‘’ I have been mining sand here for over 14 years but today I have been forced to stop my only source of livelihood because from sand mining I have been able to support the education of my 4 children. Am therefore asking the government to support us with other sources of income because the situation is likely to be worse if something else is done to support our lives’’ Ms Mbabazi said.
Mr Author Tugume, 23, welcomed the Suspension pointing out the negative social impacts of the activity, including increased school dropouts and rising crime, particularly during school holidays.
‘’Yes we have been getting money from sand mining but it has also hindered the development of our community because the activity greatly contributed to increasing child school dropout. Young children between 8 -10 years were no longer schooling because of sand mining so I thank the government for this action’’ . Mr Tugume said.
Mr Mugazi Mugisha, 49 years, another affected Sand miner said ‘’ Am saddened because of this decision because it has been my source of income. Well I will go with the directive but the government should at least support me with alternative livelihood sources of livelihood’’.
About River Rushaya
River Rushaya is found in Bwambara sub- county Rujumbura in Rukungiri district and it pours its waters in Lake Edward. Due to the sandy nature of the surrounding ground, the river often bursts its banks, posing a serious threat to the stability of the bridge.
The River accommodates a bridge which connects Rukungiri district to the Kasese and Kanungu Districts through Queen Elizabeth National Park. The bridge crosses a wide river that experiences heavy flooding during the rainy seasons.
