from the volume of truck traffic, possible damage and annoyance resulting from
blasting, and concerns regarding aesthetics and land use changes. The situation in
Uganda is not different. By far the greatest impact of mining on the soil resources is
due to opencast mining, which is causing tremendous deterioration of soil quality.
19
This has negative effects on productivity of the soil for farming purposes. Similarly
surface mining, as contrasted with underground mining, results in the destruction of
the existing vegetation and soil profile. Removal of overburden and waste rock and its
replacement in waste dumps or the mined-out pit have the potential to significantly
transform the topography and stability of the landscape.
20 Land refers to soil,
landforms, geology, climate and hydrology, the plant cover, and fauna including
insects and microorganisms. The nature of utilization under which it is currently put
or the possible kinds of uses under consideration for the future is referred to as Land
Use and is no doubt under threat from sand mining activities.
21
The Lake Victoria Basin is endowed with alluvial depositions that contain sand,
which is a highly sought after and widely used resource by the construction industry.
The deposit of sand in the basin is deeper in the Western part of Uganda, especially
in the vicinity of Lwera and Bukatata. It is therefore not surprising that out of all
permitted sand mining projects, over eighty percent of them are based in the West of
the Lake Victoria basin, particularly in Lwera area.
In Lwera, commercial sand mines started recently, and their emergence over the
years is wholly attributed to a growing demand for clean sand. The situation
contrasts with some years back when sand was mined using simple local tools,
such as hoes and spades. During that time, large scale mining in Uganda was
confined to few places such as Bukakata, in the 1960s, where sand was excavated
to be used for glass making by the East African Glass Works Limited. As will be
seen anon in the next section, sand mining activities come with negative impacts,
and Lwera has not been spared. Kamaliba, a traditional fishing village, which is
surrounded by three mining companies, has also been negatively affected by the
activities of sand miners. This has led to massive loss of shelter, toilets, access roads,
recreational space and land for cultivation, as some of the developers have expanded
their mines beyond the permitted boundaries.
5 The Legal Regime
The law describes soil to include sand. Under the National Environment Act “soil”
includes earth, sand, rock, shale, minerals, vegetation, and the soil flora and fauna in
the soil and derivatives thereof such as dust. This means that soil includes sand.
19 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Report (2017).
20 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Report (2017).
21 Uganda Land Policy Preamble.
106
T. Sanni
blasting, and concerns regarding aesthetics and land use changes. The situation in
Uganda is not different. By far the greatest impact of mining on the soil resources is
due to opencast mining, which is causing tremendous deterioration of soil quality.
19
This has negative effects on productivity of the soil for farming purposes. Similarly
surface mining, as contrasted with underground mining, results in the destruction of
the existing vegetation and soil profile. Removal of overburden and waste rock and its
replacement in waste dumps or the mined-out pit have the potential to significantly
transform the topography and stability of the landscape.
20 Land refers to soil,
landforms, geology, climate and hydrology, the plant cover, and fauna including
insects and microorganisms. The nature of utilization under which it is currently put
or the possible kinds of uses under consideration for the future is referred to as Land
Use and is no doubt under threat from sand mining activities.
21
The Lake Victoria Basin is endowed with alluvial depositions that contain sand,
which is a highly sought after and widely used resource by the construction industry.
The deposit of sand in the basin is deeper in the Western part of Uganda, especially
in the vicinity of Lwera and Bukatata. It is therefore not surprising that out of all
permitted sand mining projects, over eighty percent of them are based in the West of
the Lake Victoria basin, particularly in Lwera area.
In Lwera, commercial sand mines started recently, and their emergence over the
years is wholly attributed to a growing demand for clean sand. The situation
contrasts with some years back when sand was mined using simple local tools,
such as hoes and spades. During that time, large scale mining in Uganda was
confined to few places such as Bukakata, in the 1960s, where sand was excavated
to be used for glass making by the East African Glass Works Limited. As will be
seen anon in the next section, sand mining activities come with negative impacts,
and Lwera has not been spared. Kamaliba, a traditional fishing village, which is
surrounded by three mining companies, has also been negatively affected by the
activities of sand miners. This has led to massive loss of shelter, toilets, access roads,
recreational space and land for cultivation, as some of the developers have expanded
their mines beyond the permitted boundaries.
5 The Legal Regime
The law describes soil to include sand. Under the National Environment Act “soil”
includes earth, sand, rock, shale, minerals, vegetation, and the soil flora and fauna in
the soil and derivatives thereof such as dust. This means that soil includes sand.
19 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Report (2017).
20 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Report (2017).
21 Uganda Land Policy Preamble.
106
T. Sanni