Post by L Roebuck on Aug 20, 2007 14:02:53 GMT -5
Uganda: Kitaka Mine - Where People Die of Mysterious Diseases
New Vision Bizimungu Kisakye Kampala
" Sounds made by monkeys and birds echo in the thick forest as we drive through. We then cross a river to get to the cave that has huge deposits of galena ore, copper and gold.
The cave is also home to over 10 million bats, whose excreta can be smelt from the entrance of the tunnel said to be over 10km long.
According to George Nabijuka, the assistant chief administrative officer of Kitagwenda sub-county, mining in Kitaka started during the late President Idi Amin's regime. It was carried out by Europeans who later sealed off the area because people were dying of mysterious diseases.
This made residents to flee the area, explaining why it is sparsely populated.
Residents around the mine believe the bats are the source of the viral disease that has paralysed the mining activities. On top of the cave lies a huge excavator which is used to dig up the land in search of minerals.
Charles Mukundane, the manager of the mine, says: "It is those bats that the Government has failed to kill that make us sick. They are many, especially inside the cave." Mukundane said."
Full Article
New Vision Bizimungu Kisakye Kampala
" Sounds made by monkeys and birds echo in the thick forest as we drive through. We then cross a river to get to the cave that has huge deposits of galena ore, copper and gold.
The cave is also home to over 10 million bats, whose excreta can be smelt from the entrance of the tunnel said to be over 10km long.
According to George Nabijuka, the assistant chief administrative officer of Kitagwenda sub-county, mining in Kitaka started during the late President Idi Amin's regime. It was carried out by Europeans who later sealed off the area because people were dying of mysterious diseases.
This made residents to flee the area, explaining why it is sparsely populated.
Residents around the mine believe the bats are the source of the viral disease that has paralysed the mining activities. On top of the cave lies a huge excavator which is used to dig up the land in search of minerals.
Charles Mukundane, the manager of the mine, says: "It is those bats that the Government has failed to kill that make us sick. They are many, especially inside the cave." Mukundane said."
Full Article