By Dorothy Nyambubi
Miners operating in different stone quarry sites in Hoima East division, Hoima City have expressed dismay over the low prices of gravel saying it’s hampering their economic success.
The miners who operate in Mparo North cell, Kyentale Hill, Kyedikyo cell, and Kyahaiguru stone quarry sites among others in the division believe that the decline in prices is due to an oversaturation of the market, with too many quarries competing for buyers.
Speaking to Spice FM, the miners have also identified lack of market, equipment, health, complications among others saying these are affecting improving their household incomes.
Getrude Katusiime and Elizabeth Businge women operating at Mparo stone quarry site say however much they are committed to working, they need heavy machines to extract and crush stones adding that they currently use rudimentary tools that are tiring and time consuming.
In Kyedikyo village, Janet Kunihira says on top of little pay, they are now worried about the Shs. 20,000 tax recently imposed by National Forestry Authority (NFA) since they use their land to extract gravel saying the hard earned money from the gravel is extremely small to sustain their livelihoods.
However, Stewart Kyaligonza the managing director Mparo stone quarry site has expressed dismay over middlemen in the business who he accuse of manipulating the miners adding that plans are on to convene a meeting with miners and drivers in order to have fixed prices for each type of gravel.
The NFA Spokesperson Aldon Walukamba says the miners are expected to pay ground rent through a responsible authority adding that they have even defaulted the agreement several times by not meeting the payment as required. He adds if they are not willing to pay the rent they should vacate the area.
