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Barrick North Mara is set to begin construction of a modern three-storey gold market in Nyamongo, Tarime District, in April 2026, marking a major boost to mineral trading infrastructure and local economic activity in the area.
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting held on February 20, 2026, which brought together village leaders from 11 communities surrounding the mine, alongside officials from the Tarime District Council. The meeting was chaired by Tarime District Commissioner Major Edward Gowele.
Speaking at the meeting, Barrick North Mara’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Projects Officer, Hermence Christopher Lulah, said the project had taken time due to its scale and the need to ensure technical and financial feasibility.
“This is a large and strategic project. We went through several stages of architectural design and cost reviews. The initial design was found to be too expensive, which required us to revise it so that it could be implemented effectively,” Lulah said.
He added that the design process is now almost complete, soil tests have been conducted, and approvals from relevant authorities are being processed.
According to him, preparatory work for the first phase of construction is more than 90 percent complete.
The first phase of the project is expected to cost Sh800 million and will include a dedicated gold trading area as well as rentable commercial and office spaces within the three-storey building.
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Lulah also revealed that Barrick North Mara will implement another key CSR project in Nyamwaga, where the first phase of a modern bus terminal will be constructed at a cost of Sh327.5 million. The facility will comprise 79 shops, a passenger waiting area, and vehicle parking space.
Earlier, the Councillor for Matongo Ward under Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Godfrey Kegoye, raised concerns over delays in the implementation of strategic community projects, particularly the Nyamongo gold market.
He said a community market in the central part of Matongo was demolished two years ago to pave the way for the gold market, but construction had not yet started, triggering complaints from residents.
“People agreed to give up their market to allow the construction of the gold market, but two years have passed without seeing the project begin,” said Kegoye.
“The same situation applies to the Nyamwaga bus stand and market, which were approved to be funded through CSR.”he added
Chairing the meeting, District Commissioner Gowele gave village leaders an opportunity to present their concerns and development challenges, many of which were addressed by the mine’s management and district council officials.
The planned gold market follows long-standing complaints from mineral traders in Nyamongo, who have been operating in a narrow and congested building.
In December 2023, traders publicly called for the construction of a modern facility that reflects the scale of gold production in the area.
Nyamongo Gold Market chairperson Mwita Samson has previously said the existing structure is inadequate and poses operational challenges for traders.
Similar concerns were raised during earlier visits by national mineral traders’ leaders and officials from the Mining Commission, including representatives of FEMATA.
Once completed, the new gold market is expected to improve safety, transparency and efficiency in gold trading, while creating new business opportunities for residents of Nyamongo and neighbouring communities.