Six private security guards accused of attempting to shoot at State Minister for Minerals, Phiona Nyamutoro, have been charged with seven counts of threatening violence. They are Nobert Okurboth, the Manager of Wolves Security Company in charge of Rubanda and Kisoro districts; Robert Mucunguzi; Anthony Niwagaba; Hassan Oman; Deus Kiiza; and Mathias Kajugo.
On Thursday, the Minister and mineral officials had gone to inspect iron ore mines in Butare belonging to National Cement Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Devki Group of companies.
Officials had spent the whole of Wednesday in a consultative meeting with miners from the Kigezi region at White Horse Inn Kabale to discuss the ongoing biometric registration of artisanal miners across the country.
However, upon arriving at the mines, four security guards blocked officials from accessing the site and even cocked their guns, apparently prepared to shoot. The Minister and her team were rescued by her police bodyguards, who promptly intervened to disarm and arrest the guards.
On Monday, the six suspects appeared before Kabale Grade One Magistrate Julius Mutabazi, where they were formally charged with seven counts of threatening violence.
According to the charge sheet, the accused intimidated and threatened to shoot Nyamutoro and other officials, including Allen Ndyanabo, the head of the geological department in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development; Bernard Katwaro, a commander with the Minerals department in the ministry of energy and mineral development; and Anesterio Kiiza, the police minerals protection unit commander for the Kigezi region.
Also implicated were Solomon Okello, police constables Cassim Asiimwe, and Joseph Odeke, all attached to the Minerals Protection Unit.
The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded to Ndorwa Government Prison until July 18th.
Kabale District State Attorney, Rachael Nkwanzi, informed the court that investigations into the case have been completed.
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