NICHOLAS A
Residents of Ruhaama Sub County in Ntungamo District and Atzano small-scale tin miners at Rwamwiri Hill have expressed gratitude following the resumption of mining activities at Mwerasandu Mines in Rwamwiri, after the site had been closed for over a month.
Residents say tin mining in Rwamwiri provides employment opportunities for people from Ruhaama and surrounding areas such as Kitwe, Ntungamo, Kishami, and Mirama, among others.
They explained that since the suspension of mining operations in early September 2025, hundreds of people had been struggling with unemployment, and many businesses had weakened, especially in the trading centers of Wechango, Ruhaama, Rwengoma, and Omukoona. The tin mining activities had previously attracted large numbers of people, boosting the demand for goods and services in the area.
Byaruhanga Gipori, a chapatti vendor in Wechango Trading Center, told our reporter that before the mine’s closure, he used to consume 12 cartons of wheat flour weekly due to high demand. However, during the suspension, he barely used two cartons and still struggled to sell them because of the reduced customer base. He expressed optimism that with the reopening, business would recover and customer numbers would rise again.
Gipori added that the resumption of mining would also help reduce insecurity and theft, since many youths who had lost jobs would now be engaged in productive work. He appreciated the management of H5 Mining Company for cooperating with residents and Atzano small-scale miners.
Barekye Leonidas, an Atzano miner, said that during the closure, they struggled to meet their daily needs since mining had been their main source of income. He expressed hope that life would improve now that they could resume work.
He added that cases of theft in the community would likely reduce, as many youths would once again be employed and able to provide for themselves.
Kinyata Ipolito, the LC3 Chairperson for Ruhaama Sub County, confirmed the development, noting that tin mining had not only been suspended at Mwerasandu on Rwamwiri Hill but also in Rwengoma and other areas in Western Uganda.
He said that only the mines at Mwerasandu on Rwamwiri Hill had been reopened following successful negotiations between Atzano miners’ leaders, local authorities, and the H5 Mining Company, which currently owns the site.
It is worth remembering that Rwamwiri Hill was initially operated solely by Atzano small-scale miners, who had a memorandum of understanding with Zanac Holdings Company that allowed them to continue their operations. However, when Zanac sold the business to H5 Company, the management of Zanac did not involve H5 in renewing the agreement, prompting H5 to halt Atzano miners’ activities.
Mining in Rwengoma remains suspended since the site, which was under a license held by Wood Cross Company, is still under legal dispute between Wood Cross and Euromine Company over ownership rights to the same mining center.
