Court has remanded security guards who cocked guns at State Minister for Minerals, Phiona Nyamutoro, during an inspection exercise in Rubanda last week.
The six suspects, who appeared before Kabale Grade One Magistrate Julius Mutabazi on Monday, were remanded until July 18th. They face charges of threatening violence and have pleaded not guilty.
The incident occurred when Minister Nyamutoro and officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development arrived at iron ore mines in Butare, Rubanda District. The mines are operated by National Cement Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Devki Group of Companies.
The officials were on a follow-up visit after spending the previous day in a consultative meeting with miners from the Kigezi region at White Horse Inn Kabale, discussing the ongoing biometric registration of artisanal miners across the country.
Upon their arrival at the mines, four security guards blocked the officials and cocked their guns, threatening to shoot. The swift response of the Minister’s police bodyguards prevented a potentially tragic incident by disarming and arresting the guards.
The accused, identified as Nobert Okurboth, Manager of Wolves Security Company for Rubanda and Kisoro districts, along with Robert Mucunguzi, Anthony Niwagaba, Hassan Oman, Deus Kiiza, and Mathias Kajugo, have been charged with seven counts of threatening violence.
They allegedly intimidated and threatened to shoot Minister Nyamutoro and other officials, including Allen Ndyanabo, head of the Geological Department in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Bernard Katwaro, a commander in the Minerals Department, Anesterio Kiiza, the Police Minerals Protection Unit Commander for the Kigezi region, Solomon Okello, and police constables Cassim Asiimwe and Joseph Odeke, all attached to the Minerals Protection Unit.
Kabale District State Attorney, Rachael Nkwanzi, informed the court that investigations into the case are complete.
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