Death Toll in Namayingo Gold Mine Collapse Rises to Five

The death toll from the collapse of the abandoned Mabuka gold mine in Namayingo District has risen from three to five.

Police say the mine had been officially closed last year due to safety concerns, but residents allegedly continued carrying out illegal mining activities that weakened the structure before it collapsed.

Search and rescue teams recovered three bodies on Sunday, while two more bodies were retrieved on Monday morning, bringing the total number of fatalities to five.

The bodies have been taken to Buyinja Health Centre IV mortuary for postmortem examinations as investigations continue.

Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha confirmed that officers from the Mineral Police Unit have been deployed to inspect the site and support ongoing investigations.