Mr. Okedi, gold panning in Amonikakinei, Uganda

Mr. Okedi, the diligent sluice operation assistant and industrious miner hailing from the bustling district of Busia in Uganda, is currently engaged in the meticulous art of gold panning along the golden sands of River Okame at Amonikakinei beach.

Gold panning is a technique used to extract gold particles from gravel and sand by using various tools such as pans, screens, sluices (like Mr. Okedi’s sluice), or even hand-built devices in the presence of flowing water. The process involves scooping up sediment from the river bed or stream bank and then gently swirling it within a pan to separate lighter materials like gravel, sand, and debris while heavier objects such as gold remain at the bottom. This method relies on gravity and differences in density between gold (a dense metal) and other minerals or rocks. Gold panning requires patience, skillful manipulation of water levels to control sediment movement, keen observation for spotting the glint of gold among the pan’s contents, and often a good deal of physical labor as one sifts through numerous samples without finding much in terms of pay dirt. Mr. Okedi’s involvement at Amonikakinei beach is part of this historical yet still-practiced method to prospect for gold, which has been used since ancient times by various cultures around the world seeking wealth from natural deposits.