Women, artizanal mining and economic independence : a case of Kasokoso, Namugongo Division, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District

Abstract

The study sought to examine women, artizanal mining and their economic independence. Specifically, this study set out to: Examine the reasons why women choose to participate in artisanal stone mining; examine the contribution of women participation in artizanal mining to their economic independence, , the extent to which women’s participation in artisanal stone mining was contributing to their economic independence , challenges faced by women artisanal miners, and analyse women’s’ experiences in artisanal stone mining in Kasokoso Kira municipality ,Wakiso district, the environmental impact awareness by women artisanal stone miners. The study was informed by the Liberal feminist theory laid out by Harriet Taylor (1807-1858), which advocates for gender equality (Szapuová, 2008). This theory also argued that the only means by which women can be elevated in the social scale, is through being given equal access to the same jobs as men, and that they should not have to live in 'separate spheres’(England, 2017). The sample size for the study was 78 respondents from the population of 100 miners and 10 FDGs for in-depth interview. Quantitative data analysis was done using STATA and presented using descriptive statistics which show frequency and percentages (Rubin, 2016). While qualitative data was analyzed with the help of Atlas Ti Version 12. Qualitative narrative reports were subjected to thematic and content analysis (Bricki et al., 2007). Findings revealed that women choose to participate in artisanal stone mining because of the low inputs required to start and maintain the trade. Secondly, the extent of economic success as women participate in artisanal stone mining was indicated by the potential to manage their mines and earn money that enabled them to fund their daily needs. To them, this was economic independence. The study further revealed that women’s experience in the artisanal stone mining exposed them to health risks such as stone cuts, eye damage, back pain, and sometimes sickness. From the findings, the following recommendations were made; the government should recognise the importance of artizanal stone mining as a strategy to poverty eradication and economic independence, legalise it so that it can be supported and protected, sensitize women on best practices recommended in artisanal stone mining activities. NGO’s need to put up schemes where women miners are sensitized to become economically independent. Women Mining Associations can be enhanced where they exist or be started where they are non-existent so that these can play the role of sensitizing the members on financial literacy in order to improve the management of income generated from the mining activity.