Time zone EAT (UTC+3) | Elevation 1,195 m | |
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Kassanda is a town in Mubende District, in the Central Region of Uganda.
Contents
Map of Kassanda, Uganda
Location
Kassanda in located in Mubende District, approximately 58 kilometres (36 mi) east of Mubende, the location of the district headquarters. This is about 110 kilometres (68 mi) west of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda. The coordinates of the Kassanda are 0°32'48.0"N, 31°49'11.0"E (Latitude:0.546670; Longitude:31.819719).
Overview
Prior to 2013, the town was a quiet rural settlement. Then someone discovered a gold nugget on one of the hills in town. While gold has been known to exist in the area, this new find led to an influx of "prospectors" from outside the area. They came from as far away as Rwanda and DR Congo. Many were previously unemployed or underemployed youth from the streets of Kampala. This has led to an impromptu "gold rush", with miners, washers, refiners, middlemen, buyers and exporters. In 2014, it was reported that five out of fifty mines (10 percent) were producing gold.
Points of interest
The Myanzi–Kassanda–Bukuya–Kiboga Road passes through the middle of town.