NEWS– The territorial Police in Rubanda district have arrested Five private security guards of Wolves security company who allegedly resisted the Minister of State for mineral development Hon. Phiona Nyamutooro and technical team to access an illegal mining site of National cement company at Butare Katoojo in Muko sub county Rubanda district.
The Minister together with the technical team from the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines accompanied by PMPU went to inspect Iron ore Exploration License No.EL00340 belonging to STEAM Investments in Muko Rubanda district.
They are on country-wide tour and consultative engagement on draft Regulations for Gazzetting areas for Artisanal and Small Scale Miners.
According to AASP Elly Maate the Kigigezi Region Police spokesman, the Minister received a complaint from directors of STEAM that their Exploration License had been trespassed on by unknown People who were mining illegally allegedly working for John Muluri Muyambi & National Cement Company.
It’s alleged that, on the 20th June 2024 at about 10Am, when the Minister and Team went on ground for fact finding & inspection, the Private security Company on duty refused to open for them, until the Police teams intervened.
After Inspection, the same security guard blocked the convoy and cocked their guns threatening to shoot. Maate stresses that there were 5 Private security guards armed with 3 Riffles ( SMGs).
He adds that, it’s when all the 5 Private security guards Kiiza Deus, Okurboth Robert, Niwagaba Anthony, Kajugo Mathias and Mucunguzi Robert and were arrested & disarmed after which they were handed over to Territorial Police Rubanda CPS and charged accordingly under reference number SD 25/20/06/2024.
The Minister and Team are safe and have continued with their scheduled duties and there is no cause for alarm according to ASP Maate.
