New Anti-Corruption App Launched for Busoga Miners

Summary:

• Miners in Busoga have been introduced to a new anti-corruption platform, a collaborative project between Uganda, Tanzania, the DRC, and Zambia. Developed by BASIS International, the app allows miners to share information and report corrupt practices. Local leaders encourage its use to prevent exploitation and resolve issues like bribery and unfair compensation in the mining sector.

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Miners in the Busoga region have been introduced to a new initiative designed to tackle corruption in the sector. Led by Don Mwesigye, the whistle-blowing project is a collaborative effort involving Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.

The initiative, a joint venture between the Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy (ACEMP) and BASIS International, focuses on the mineral-rich districts of Bugiri and Mayuge. The new platform, developed by BASIS International, functions similarly to social media apps like Facebook or WhatsApp, allowing members from different countries to interact and share information. This provides miners with a chance to learn about mining operations in other regions and identify potential issues.

Mwesigye explained that the platform helps miners compare practices and detect irregularities, enabling them to report corruption more easily. On Friday, he met with representatives of artisanal and small-scale miners from the Busoga sub-region at Happy Wallet Hotel in Bugiri district.

Ali Mutambwire, chairman of the Budde artisanal miners association, welcomed the app, noting that it will help protect local miners from exploitation by large companies. “Some companies force us off our land after bribing local leaders, threatening us with connections to powerful offices,” he said.

Aisha Nakiranda, the Bugiri Community Development Officer, encouraged gold miners to use the app to report corrupt practices. “We frequently see land disputes in mining areas due to bribery, with some affected people complaining about suspicious compensation rates. These issues can be reported through the app to help address them,” Nakiranda added.