The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), through its Environment Protection Force (EPF) and in coordination with the Ministry of Water and Environment, Environmental Protection Police Unit, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, has carried out a decisive multi-agency enforcement operation against illegal sand mining in Mpigi and Kalungu districts.
The two-day operation that ended Wednesday, 15th April, targeted Gwanira Village in Mpigi District and Kamuwunga Village in Kalungu District, where illegal sand extraction was actively taking place in violation of environmental laws.
In a major enforcement action, eight (8) Sino trucks used in illegal sand transportation were impounded and are currently held at Lubigi Police Station for safe custody.
At the Kalungu site, fifty (50) boats used in illegal sand mining were impounded and destroyed on-site. Six (6) suspects were arrested and are currently detained at Lubigi Police Station to support ongoing investigations.
Additionally, approximately fifty (50) spades used in the illegal extraction of sand were impounded across both sites.
The enforcement teams also collected critical evidence, including GPS coordinates and photographic documentation, to support prosecution.
Investigations at both locations confirmed that sand mining was being conducted without the requisite approvals from NEMA. In Mpigi, operators were extracting sand on dry land without authorization, while in Kalungu, illegal mining was being carried out along the Kampala–Masaka Highway using boats and manual tools.
These activities pose serious environmental risks, including land degradation, ecosystem destruction, and potential damage to infrastructure.
NEMA will institute legal proceedings against the responsible developers, including prosecution and/or administrative fines in accordance with the law.
Restoration orders will also be issued to ensure that the affected areas are rehabilitated.
NEMA reiterates its commitment to enforcing environmental laws and safeguarding Uganda’s natural resources.