Crime
Five Private Security Guards Arrested for Blocking Minister Nyamutoro’s Convoy
The police in Rubanda have arrested five private security guards from Wolves Security Company. The guards allegedly resisted allowing the Minister of State for Mineral Development, Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro, and her technical team to access a mining site operated by the National Cement Company in Butare Katoojo, Muko Sub-County, Rubanda District.
According to ASP Elly Maate, the PRO for the Kigezi Police Region, the minister and her team, including officials from the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines and the PMPU, were on a country-wide tour.
This tour involved consultative engagements on draft regulations for gazetting areas for artisanal and small-scale miners. They were inspecting Iron Ore Exploration License No. EL00340, belonging to STEAM Investments in Muko, Rubanda District.
The minister received a complaint from STEAM directors that their exploration license had been trespassed upon by unknown individuals mining illegally without a license. These individuals were allegedly working for John Muluri Muyambi and the National Cement Company.
On June 20, 2024, at about 10:00 hrs, when the minister and her team arrived for inspection, the guards on duty refused them entry until police teams intervened. During the inspection, the same security guards blocked the convoy and cocked their guns, threatening to shoot.
The five guards, identified as Kiiza Deus, Okurboth Robert, Niwagaba Anthony, Kajugo Mathias, and Mucunguzi Robert, were armed with three rifles (SMGs).
Maate says they were immediately arrested and disarmed. The guards are currently being held at Rubanda CPS and charged accordingly.
Meanwhile, the minister and her team have continued with their scheduled duties.
