The Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development, Phiona Nyamutoro, has suspended the illegal mining of iron ore in Kisoro district.
Nyamutoro, who was almost shot at by private security guards at the site, immediately halted mining operations at the National Cement Company, a subsidiary of the Devki group, citing illegality, today, Thursday, June 20, 2024.
“We are going to come back to ensure that the equipment has been moved away and mining has been cut off in all the areas that National Cement has and ensure that this is stopped immediately, and probably this should send a message to everyone else that is doing illegal mining out there,” Nyamutoro stated.
“We are not seated; we are going to move around and arrest whoever is culpable, and we are going to stop illegal mining with immediate effect. Wherever you find it being carried out when it is not licensed by the government and when it is especially infringing on other people’s licenses that are supposed to be carrying out work, let us know. Thank you so much for bringing us here,” Nyamutoro added.
The Minister therefore confirmed illegal mining at National Cement Company and closed off the site, calling for whoever is responsible to acquire a mining license officially.
Police in Kable district are holding the private security guards for questioning in the attempted shooting of the minister.
On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, Minister Nyamutoro also halted mining activities in Tiira Town Council Busia district, citing illegal and unsafe gold mining.
In 2011, the former Minister of State for Economic Planning and Monitoring, Henry Banyezaki, called for an end to illegal mining in Kisoro, saying that the government loses a lot of money due to the illegal activities that surround illegal mining.