Pozzolana mineral which had at first been seen as a blessing to the over 1000 residents leaving in Kawowo and Buwekunda sub counties of Kapchorwa and Bulambuli districts, has turned into a center of cries.
Since Kampala Cement started mining the mineral in large scale, locals who at first saw it as a safe and fastest driver to economic development are cursing the day they landed.
Some reached an extent of threatening to turn violent, if they (Kampala Cement) do not compensate them and some of them are in Kaboryot and Kapchela in Kawowo sub-county in Kapchorwa.
Sadly, Kampala Cement only started holding meetings with communities’ years after they started exploration in the area.
Environmental Pollution
The center of suffering is placed at the environmental pollution which they said have been championed by Kampala Cement activities in the contested areas.
In 2018 for example, 38 families led by a one Chesang dragged Kampala Cement to Courts of Law, over environmental pollution.
13 people have so far died and and dozens hospitalized.
“Kampala Cement plant manufacturers is causing unbearable suffering due to the mining exercise. The houses have been cracked due to the persistent blasts, leaving scores of families in dire state,” said one of the aggrieved residents who spoke to this Website.
Despite of winning a Court case, which ordered the factory to compensate each grieving family with a sum of Shs9m each, Kampala cement has never fulfilled this.
The court case mediation number 39 of 2022 arriving from civil suit number 37 of 2021was between Kampala Cement vs Chesang Stone, and 37 others.
Kampala Cement lawyers have since said the compensation to the affected communities will be delayed until proper figures are calculated.
Led by Brian Kabafunzaki, these said,
“I don’t want to be held unprofessional because the case is in court and the court is doing its work.”
However, the families represented by their lawyers led by Ben Kiprotich from Kasumba & Shield Company Advocates decreed the delayed compensation, saying that the factory is just doing more harm.
“Water that is seen as a common resource that allows these indigenous people to move forward as a people and for life to flow, has greatly been polluted due to the exploration,” Kabafunzaki said
Locals Cough Fire
Residents who spoke to this website faulted the factory for being selfish
Gimono Sarah, one of the residents for example said,
” We are staying in badly shaped houses due to cracks cause by mining, the cracks keep in deepening every day,”
Gimono noted that the mining activities contribute to dust that pollutes the air they breathe.
The vibration from machines and flying rocks from sites, she says have made their houses dilapidated and un-habitable.
Speaking with a booming dramatic voice is John Mbuka, a resident of Kaoryot village in Kapchorwa district, an area affected by floods.
“Whenever we plant crops the floods wash them away yet we incur a lot during the planting, last year we were told to be patient and wait for compensation but go date nothing has been done” he said
Kampala Cement Defiant
Despite of being stopped by the Natural Resources Committee of Parliament, to halt its operations due to environmental concerns in November 2019, the factory has continuously conducted its operations.
Tom Chesang the Chairperson Sabiny Youth Association said they are just waiting for court to handle the matter.
“The court instructed the company to compensate and pay all the damages caused to the communities come next month and we are eagerly waiting” he said
Aisa Scovia Muduwa, the General Secretary of the affected families, said that Kampala cement factory has repeatedly promised to compensate them in vain.
“We agreed with them that they go on with mining on request that they are prepared to compensate us but we have been taken for granted and this hurts us so much,” she said
Stanley Baylor the RDC Bulambuli district said they are having mediation meetings with the communities.
“We are organizing for meetings with Kampala cement and we want to hear clear resolution from them on how to solve all these matters and we have also tasked them to go slow as the court decides” he said
