Controversial news of attempted shooting at the Minister of State for Mineral development Hon Phiona Nyamutoro dominated the media on 20th June 2024 yesterday while on her visit to a mining site in Muko Rubanda district.
Information reaching this publication through our sources reveals that the Minister was acting on a complaint which was raised at the start of this year. According to the Operations Manager of Steam investments limited which holds an exploration license of iron ore, the company raised a red flag of an unknown company which was carrying out illegal mining in the area.
“ We put in an official complaint to the Ministry over illegal mining activities in our area of operation in a letter dated 29th February 2024,” Steam Operations Manager said.
According to the operational manager steam was forced to halt operations by guards from wolves security private guards who strictly kept away steam investment limited from accessing the premises which they have an exploration license No. EL00340. The guards claimed to have had orders not allowing any one into the mining premises way before even the minister visited the area.
The company that was illegally operating on the mine was unknown until yesterday 20th June 2024 when the Minister visited and there was a stand off between the private guards and the ministers team which prompted National Cement Company Uganda Limited to come out in a statement and claim the operations while putting the blame on the guards.
Sources among the eye witnesses however reveal that the mining is done using heavy and expensive machinery and there is a public whisper that they have a backing of “a big” person. Witnesses revealed that at the time the minister came to the premises on her monitoring routine, there were Asian Investors who all run into hiding. However, another source reveals that the activities on the mine have bee run by a one John Muluri Muyambi who is said to operate on behalf of “big people” a source revealed.
Questions remain unanswered as stake holders in the mining sector and the public remain confused on the involvement of National Cement Company which came out in a statement to deny any mining activities in Rubanda.
Following many unconnected dots, the Minister left standing orders that the mining stops and premises be evacuated immediately as investigations into the illegalities in the mine are being carried out.
