Sand mining in Ggaba

Kasagama John a resident at Ggaba landing site in Makindye division on the Lake Victoria shores says he was a fisher man before he started carrying out sand mining. Fishing as an activity was so competitive yet there was inadequate fish in the lake. This led to little earnings which couldn’t sustain his family, says. “With Sand mining, life has totally changed. I earn than I used to in the fish business. With an increasing in the construction industry, I expect more from this venture,” Kasagama says with a smile on his face.

Sand mining has not only answered the prayers of unemployed youth in Ggaba on the out skirts of Uganda’s capital city Kampala but also provides raw materials for the construction industry.

However, the practice has also contributed to the destruction of the environment according to some residents. They argue that tools used to extract sand from the lake beds affects the aquatic life of the lake and has also led to the death of the ecosystem around the lake.

“We are aware that the aquatic life in the lake is especially affected by some of these activities. When the fish stock dwindled and yet many youths had already joined the business, the only alternative for some of us was to do something different and that was – sand mining. We are fully aware of the dangers of the trade but this how we also earn a living and be able to support our families,” said Yusuf Kalibala another sand miner.

Tools used in sand mining business

Youths use tools such as spades, machetes, hoes and other simple tools which are the most commonly used  for the beginners due to lack of capital. These mainly extract sand from the lake shores since the tools they use cannot allow them go beyond. This affects the quality and quantity of sand, and in turn yields fewer profits. Others with machines are able go beyond. However the machines used are highly labor intensive which also require additional use of simple tools such as spade.

Effects of sand mining on the lake

According to studies, sand mining leads to the death of fish and also affects their breeding. The machines used hit the fish and as well as the gasses omitted by these machines. This is in addition to the noise created by these machines.

Mutawe Julius, a fisher man on the lake says the noise scares away the fish thus running into hiding places. He also adds that sand mining has mainly affected the breeding of fish which has led to its reduction in the lakes.  `

Fishermen collect their catch at Ggaba Landing whereas sand mining business is in the background

Whereas sand mining affects the lives of fish in the lake, people’s lives are also exposed to high risks.  Diseases such as Bilharzia affect miners since they spend long hours standing in the waters. Accidents also occur in the process of mining. These include drowning, attacked by dangerous animals, hit by the machines they use and so many others.

The authorities are aware of the effects of sand mining on the environment, but have however continued to provide licenses to the sand miners. Under their association lead by Chairman Kalyango Moses, sand miners are able to collect money in order to get a license from Kampala Capita City Authority (KCCA). The association also enables miners come together to achieve collective goals. Kalyango says this is a simple association which is not registered yet but the fact that they operate the business within the market; they therefore pay taxes just like any other business in the market. However as the business grows they expect more membership.

The post Sand mining at Ggaba landing site is a mixture of fortune and destruction to the environment first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Nansubuga checking on her heep of firewood

In case you have visited Ggaba landing site, you have witnessed how a buzz of activity is especially during the day.

However, one will get to themselves what this landing site is all about, where it is found, what takes place there. This can only come to mind of those who haven’t been there or heard of it, Ggaba landing site is on the shores of Lake Victoria found in the outskirts of Kampala city.

It is frequented by people who go to Ggaba beach which neighbors it. The site has a market where fish and foodstuffs are sold. It also has storage units, a trading point for fish, and offices for Kampala Capital City authority, which supervises the activities on the site. Different activities from fishing, sand mining, selling of fish itself, and firewood selling among others.

Therefore all the above activities exist because of the main activity which is fishing, with fishing, it comes along with sun drying, salting, and smoking, men and women are involved in these daily activities. Not forgetting sand mining

However, one other booming business that attracts your attention before leaving the landing site is fire wood selling. Selling firewood here is way to earn extra money to some people while others it is a main business that has supported their living for a long time.

Interacting with a few people operating this kind of business especially the women, they praised and talked about the good things they have reaped out this business. You might think the firewood is not only sold to the people at the landing site but even to the outside people. So to them it is a quite a wide population consuming this firewood. This becomes an advantage for them make more money as it would limit them if it were only the fish smokers buying it.

Nansubuga walking through the parked firewood

Sarah Nansubuga, a 50 year old trader says she has been in the firewood business for over 10 years. She says she doesn’t regret operating such a business because it has helped her sustain her family in terms of paying fees for her children some of whom have been able to complete university level.

Nansubuga also says she also be  able to pay her hospital bills adding that this  her full job.

“Being an old woman, it is such a tiresome type of business to operate but I  have managed to go along  for all this time because i have benefits out of it,” she says.

Indeed, looking at how they try running this business is quite not an easy task as one would think.  Nansubuga however, says she is still trying to make the best out of it.

“First and foremost, we fetch firewood from different neighboring villages places such as Kyagwe among others. We use different transport means like on water and road using boat, larger trucks, pickups. These carry the logs from wherever they have been bought to the landing site. To make it selling firewood, you have to enjoy the challenge of hard work coupled with  hard weather at times,”Nansubuga says.

Challenges in the firewood business

Like any other business, firewood selling as a business on its own has challenges.

“Ofcourse you will sell firewood to a customer who promises  to pay so soon but will never pay at the end of the  day, but that doesn’t  stop me from going on with the business,” she also added.

Nansubuga walking through her parked firewood

Nansubuga advises that like any other business, a person should always expect  profits or losses at the end of the day and therefore should be prepared.

She says her  journey through the firewood business has been insightful. “I have been paid to play, and it doesn’t get any better than that. The benefits have been physical, psychological, financial, and yes, spiritual. Being in harmony with nature is like that,” Nansubuga adds.

The post Ggaba’s firewood selling is among the booming businesses for the surrounding islands on lake victoria first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.