The Kassanda District in Central Uganda is well known for artisanal mining. At the Kayonza-Kitumbi Mine Site, it is estimated that between 2,000-3,000 people have been engaged in small-scale gold mining here for decades, typically using toxic mercury to process the ore.
The planetGOLD project in Uganda is partnering with miners at this site to help them transition to mercury-free methods and to achieve full legal recognition by the government. Mercury-free processing equipment that will be constructed at the site in the future will also incentivize miners working nearby to formalize and join the cooperative.
