Assessing social-ecological risks associated with artisanal small-scale gold mining in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

Abstract

Artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities in the Karamoja sub-region present numerous social-ecological hazards to artisanal miners. However, with limited scholarly literature, the risks associated with the activities are not sufficiently assessed and addressed. The major objective of this study was to assess the social-ecological risks associated with ASGM. The study adopted a mixed-method approach in that it employed both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to collect the data. A total of 384 samples of miners were selected using simple random sampling technique, while purposive sampling was used in selecting the key informants. Soil and water samples were collected for experimental analysis of mercury concentration, descriptive analysis to measure means and percentages while content analysis to analyse qualitative data. The chi-square test was performed to determine association between mining risk factors and impacts to miners, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test for variation in the statistical mean of mercury concentration in soil samples collected around the mining sites and the semi quantitative risk matrix for risk rating. Based on the study findings, ASGM was characterized as an activity that is illegal and employs rudimentary methods. It is intensive in the wet season and chemicals such as mercury are applied during panning and amalgamation processes. Collapsing of pits risk in both Rupa and Karita gold mining sites was highly-rated, followed by respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis/silicosis. Risks arising out of mercury poisoning were rated higher in Karita than Rupa mining sites. Gold mining processes had a significant association with the mining impacts where, the P-values (0.024, 0.01) < 0.05 in both Rupa and Karita sub counties. The means of mercury (Hg) concentration from the selected river water samples were (1.69 mg/l and 0.79 mg/l). These means were above the acceptable limits by Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) that is, 0.001 mg/l and World Health Organisation (WHO), that is 0.006 mg/l. From the analysis of the soil samples collected in dry and wet conditions, the means of mercury concentration (dry = 4.21 mg/kg and wet = 3.48 mg/kg), had no significant statistical difference, where P-value (0.424) > 0.05. The means of Hg concentration in soil were greater than WHO permissible limit of 0.05 mg/kg. Risk mitigation measures were not a priority to both miners and local authorities given the fact that over 60% of the respondents reported not use personal protective equipment and this was coupled with limited compliance with the locally established mining regulations. This study therefore concluded that artisanal small scale gold mining presents numerous risks to miners; however, the activity is highly risky to pit diggers and panners/washers. The miners were exposed to risks such as collapsing of pits, respiratory diseases, and mercury poisoning through their respective mining processes and the low level of mechanisation. It is therefore crucial to design site specific and feasible risk reduction measures to suit the complex artisanal mining processes