Six guards charged and detained for threatening to shoot Minister Nyamutoro

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Moses Agaba

The Kabale Chief Magistrate’s Court has charged and remanded six security guards of Wolves Security Limited for threatening to shoot the state Mineral Development Minister, Phiona Nyamutoro, and officials of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development.

The court, presided over by Kabale First Class Magistrate Julius Mutabazi, heard from the prosecution led by Rachel Nkwanzi that on June 20, 2024, Norbert Okuboth, 35, Robert Mucunguzi, 25, Anthony Nuwagaba, 20, Hassan Omani, 25, Deus Kizza, 27, and Matthias Kajugo, 58, the managers of the Rubanda and Kisoro branches of Wolves Security Limited, attempted to harass, intimidate and threaten to shoot the Minister of State for Mineral Development, Fiona Nyamutoro, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development’s geologist Allan Ndianabo, and the Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Bernard Katwaro, at Katoho Town Council in Rubanda District, Butare. Katwaro), Assistant Superintendent of Police Kizza Nesterio, Kigezi Divisional Commander of the Mines Police Protection Corps, Asimwe, a mines protection officer and Constable Joseph Obette.

When the charges were read out to all of them, they pleaded not guilty to the seven counts.

Nkwanzi told the court that investigations into the matter had concluded and she asked the court to fix a hearing date and issue a witness summons so that the case could commence.

Mutabazi then set a date of July 18, 2024, for the case to begin and issued a witness summons before detaining the six security guards at the Ndorwa Government Prison.

Six private security guards were arrested on Thursday for allegedly trying to shoot Minister of State for Mines Phiona Nyamutoro.

The minister was accompanied by the Acting Commissioner for Mines and Minerals, Agnes Alaba. The incident reportedly took place on Thursday in Butare, Katoho town council area in the Rubanda district.

The minister and mining officials were in Butare to inspect the iron ore mine, which belongs to National Cement Limited, a subsidiary of the Devji Group.

Officials held a consultative meeting with miners from Kigezi area at the Kabale White Horse Hotel in Kabale District throughout Wednesday to discuss the ongoing biometric registration of artisanal miners across the country.

However, when they arrived at the mine on Thursday, the officials received a cool reception from four private security guards who were protecting the miners.

Security guards prevented officials from entering the mine and even raised their guns ready to shoot.

Cathedral and her group were reportedly rescued by police bodyguards, who acted quickly to disarm the guards and arrest them before they could harm the person in charge.