By KT Reporter
Five people including two Indian nationals are in police detention for allegedly carrying out illegal mining activities in Kabale and Rubanda districts.
The suspects being detained at Kabale central police station are: Taibu Okuker and Harish Karshan all Indian nationals, Stephen Kwesiga , John Owino and Isaac Biryomumisho. They were arrested on Wednesday during surprise operation led by Agnes Alaba, Commissioner of Mines in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and Assistant Commissioner of Police -ACP Julius Caesar Tusingwiire, head of Police Mineral Protection Unit aimed at cracking down illegal mineral activities in Kigezi sub region.
The suprise inspection was carried out in Nyakijumba along Kabale Mbarara highway, Butare village, Rutooma Ward Northern division Kabale municipality and Rwenkuriju village, Muyanje ward Bubare town council Rubanda district. At all the three sites workers were found mining and crushing iron ore illegally according to Alaba.
Alaba says after crushing, the mineral was also illegally being transported towards Kampala to be sold in an illicit market.
Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region says two TATA Lorry trucks registration numbers UBP 218F and UBM 893J were also intercepted and impounded from Nyakijumba police check point while illegally transporting iron ore towards the Kampala direction. He adds that the arrested will be paraded before court to answer the charges accordingly.
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