Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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Police in Kisoro District have arrested 28 suspects, including 25 Rwandan nationals, for engaging in illegal mining activities at the Kirwa Wolfram mines in Kabaya Village, Nyarubuye Sub-county.
According to Kigezi regional police spokesperson Elly Maate, the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted on May 2, 2026, after local authorities raised concerns about unauthorised mining at the government-owned site.
📸: Daily Monitor UG
Police reported that the Rwandan suspects allegedly entered Uganda through porous border points to access the mining area. Out of the 28 individuals arrested, three are Ugandans.
During the operation, authorities recovered approximately 30 kilograms of wolfram, a valuable mineral used in industrial applications.
Maate noted that reports of illegal mining at the site had been ongoing since the beginning of the year, prompting heightened surveillance and eventual enforcement action.
The suspects are currently facing charges of illegal mining and unlawful stay in Uganda without valid documentation. Police say investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be arraigned in court once inquiries are complete.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to protecting Uganda’s natural resources and curbing illegal activities in mining areas across the country.
Source: Daily Monitor UG
According to Kigezi regional police spokesperson Elly Maate, the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted on May 2, 2026, after local authorities raised concerns about unauthorised mining at the government-owned site.
Police reported that the Rwandan suspects allegedly entered Uganda through porous border points to access the mining area. Out of the 28 individuals arrested, three are Ugandans.
During the operation, authorities recovered approximately 30 kilograms of wolfram, a valuable mineral used in industrial applications.
Maate noted that reports of illegal mining at the site had been ongoing since the beginning of the year, prompting heightened surveillance and eventual enforcement action.
The suspects are currently facing charges of illegal mining and unlawful stay in Uganda without valid documentation. Police say investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be arraigned in court once inquiries are complete.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to protecting Uganda’s natural resources and curbing illegal activities in mining areas across the country.
Source: Daily Monitor UG
