Joining efforts: Training police officers in Uganda to support mercury reduction in ASGM

Since the enactment of Uganda’s Mining and Minerals Act in 2022, government agencies and key stakeholders have been promoting awareness and enforcing the new law, particularly within the artisanal mining sector. Under this new law, mercury is considered illegal in Uganda. 

Two years ago, the planetGOLD Uganda project joined these efforts in partnership with the Department of Mines under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and the National Environment Management Authority. The project and its partners have focused on building capacity in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector (ASGM) and promoting safer, more responsible mining practices across the 11 mine sites the project works with.

As part of these ongoing efforts, planetGOLD Uganda recently partnered with the Department of Mines to train 22 police officers from the Police Minerals Protection Unit, a division under the Uganda Police Force. This police unit works to protect minerals, enforce mining regulations, and ensure compliance with the Mining & Minerals Act while collaborating with local governments to sensitize communities on safe mining practices.

The two-day training equipped officers with knowledge on key issues including the use and impact of mercury in ASGM, the health risks of mercury exposure—especially for women and children—legal frameworks, law enforcement responsibilities, and community engagement. 

The training was also attended by Assistant Commissioner of Police Julius Caesar Tusingwire, the Commandant of the Mineral Protection Police Unit. Participants visited the Government Geological Survey Laboratory, the Mineral Dressing Laboratory, and the Geological Survey Museum to learn firsthand how exhibits of minerals and chemicals from field operations are handled.

In her opening remarks, Nassuna Grace Lukembe, Assistant Commissioner for Geoscience at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development, encouraged officers to adopt a guidance-oriented approach. “Support miners by showing them the correct process to acquire licenses. Rather than reporting only mistakes, focus on highlighting progress. That’s how you build trust and gain valuable information,” she said.

While the unit remains committed to enforcing the Mining and Minerals Act and curbing illegal mining activities, officers face challenges including limited funding, political interference, and coordination hurdles. Despite this, Commissioner Tusingwire emphasized their resolve to build capacity and enhance their operations.

Lynn Gitu, Project Manager for planetGOLD Uganda, reiterated the importance of training law enforcement to effectively support responsible mining. “Since the project’s inception, we’ve worked to help artisanal and small-scale gold miners shift away from mercury use. This training strengthens our partnership with the police and helps us better align efforts to implement the Mining and Minerals Act.”

Although this training primarily targeted police officers from mine sites in central Uganda, planetGOLD Uganda plans to roll out similar sessions in other project regions in the coming months. This is to ensure that all officers in the Minerals Protection Unit across the country are equipped to support a mercury-free future in ASGM.

The planetGOLD Uganda project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). It is executed by IMPACT in partnership with Uganda’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the country’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development under the Department of Mines. The project aims to reduce the use of mercury by supporting formalization of the artisanal gold mining sector and increasing access to finance. This will lead to adoption of mercury-free technologies and allow access to more responsible and traceable gold supply chains.