Police seize equipment used in illegal sand mining on Lake Victoria

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), supported by heavily armed Police officers, conducted a coordinated operation using both land and lake routes to surround UPDF officers guarding illegal sand miners on Lake Victoria. Pieces of equipment worth billions have been seized.

Six dredgers, used to extract and transport sand from the lake, were discovered hidden and floating on Lake Victoria. They have been impounded and are currently being towed to the Kigo landing site by a Police boat.

According to William Lubuulwa, the senior Public Relations Officer at NEMA, the illegal sand mining activity was taking place in Mbazi, Buleebi, and surrounding villages in Mpunge Sub County, Mukono District. 

This operation is part of NEMA's efforts to halt the destructive practice, as sand mining in the lake jeopardizes fish breeding grounds.