Bugiri: Children drop out of school to work in gold mines

ERIC WAKABI

Bugiri district leaders are cursing the ongoing gold mining activities that they say have led to increased school drop out.

Bude Secondary School in Bugiri is one of the most affected schools, were classrooms are empty because the children prefer gold mining to studying as they seek to make quick money.

It is estimated that over 1000 children in Bugiri district are employed in gold mines. Majority of these are school going children, who drop out of school to tap into gold money.

Haruna Matambila a resident of Bude village, and a former child gold miner, says he quit school while in senior two to join his friends who were making quick money from the trade.

The case is not any different for learners at Bude secondary School in Bugiri district.

Today, over 100 children are being rehabilitated to quit gold mining into vocational schools to help them acquire relevant skills.

Philo Aryatwijuka, the programs officer, Ecological Christian Organization, blames the problem on lack of schools in the area.

Bude Village local council one chairperson Ali Matambile Ali says gold mining continues to compel children to abandon school.

And here, children practice artisanal mining in dangerous conditions for just a few mailgrams of gold, doing hours of strenuous work in both sun and rain.