Five arrested over illegal mining in Kigezi region

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Police from the Minerals Protection Unit headquarters in Kampala, together with officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, on September 17, 2025, arrested five suspects for allegedly mining and processing minerals without a valid licence.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Police regional spokesperson, said the five are currently detained at Kabale Central Police Station, and some trucks had been impounded for transporting the illegal minerals.

“The intelligence-led operation started on Wednesday after a stakeholders’ meeting led by the commissioner of minerals, Agnes Alaba, and was conducted at several illegal iron ore mining and crushing sites that include Nyakijumba on the Kabale–Mbarara highway; Butare cell, Rutooma ward, in the Northern Division of Kabale Municipality; and Rwenkuriju cell, Muyanje ward, Bubare town council in Rubanda district, to mention but a few,” Maate said.

Those arrested include Stephen Kwesiga, Taibu Okuker, John Owino, Harish Karshan and Isaac Biryomumisho.

Maate said the two trucks impounded were Tata lorries bearing registration number plates UBP 218F and UBM 893J. They were intercepted at the Nyakijumba checkpoint.

“Several other suspects found involved in the illegal activities at some other sites were arrested and released after being sensitised about the dangers of involvement in such illegal activities and were cautioned accordingly. These operations are to continue until after the people desist from acts of lawlessness unless they use rightful and lawful channels to process the existing minerals,” he stated.

Cases of illegal mining in the Kigezi region are not new. In June last year, five private security guards were arrested for allegedly attempting to shoot at the State Minister for Minerals, Phiona Nyamutoro. The minister was accompanied by Alaba, who was then acting commissioner for mines and minerals. The incident reportedly happened at Butare, Katojo town council, Rubanda district.

The minister and the mineral officials had gone to inspect an iron ore mine in Butare belonging to the National Cement Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Devki Group of Companies.

Officials had spent the whole day in a consultative meeting with miners from the Kigezi region at White Horse Inn, Kabale district, discussing the ongoing biometric registration of artisanal miners across the country.

However, on arriving at the mines, officials were treated to a cold welcome by four private security guards who were guarding the miners.

Security guards blocked officials from accessing the mines to the extent of cocking their guns, ready to shoot.

The minister and her team were reportedly saved by her police bodyguards, who quickly moved in to disarm and arrest the guards before they could harm their principals.

Minister Nyamutoro was left wondering how the security guards attempted to shoot at them, yet the mining activity was illegal.

She was also seen ordering the immediate closure of the mines until further notice.