The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has revealed that six people have been arrested and 50 boats impounded and destroyed on-site as the authority cracked down on illegal sand mining in in Mpigi and Kalungu districts.
According to the head Corporate Communications NEMA, Naomi Karekaho the arrests, which also saw the impounding of eight Sino Trucks, followed a two-day operation targeting Gwanira Village in Mpigi District and Kamuwunga Village in Kalungu District, where illegal sand extraction was actively taking place in violation of environmental laws.
“In a major enforcement action, eight Sino trucks used in illegal sand transportation were impounded and are currently held at Lubigi Police Station for safe custody. At the Kalungu site, fifty boats used in illegal sand mining were impounded and destroyed on-site” she said.
Karekaho said the six suspects are currently detained at Lubigi Police Station to support ongoing investigations.
Karekaho noted that additionally, 50 spades used in the illegal extraction of sand were impounded across both sites, with the enforcement teams collecting critical evidence, including GPS coordinates and photographic documentation, to support prosecution.
“Investigations at both locations confirmed that sand mining was being conducted without the requisite approvals from NEMA. In Mpigi, operators were extracting sand on dry land without authorisation, while in Kalungu, illegal mining was being carried out along the Kampala–Masaka Highway using boats and manual tools” she said.
Karekaho noted that the activities pose serious environmental risks, including land degradation, ecosystem destruction, and potential damage to infrastructure.
