Kamuntu Sues Kigezi Iron Ore Miner’s Association Officials for Defamation
Written by admin on December 23, 2021
Moses Kamuntu Mwongyera, the Executive Director of Kamuntu Investments Limited, which is licensed to transport and export raw iron ore from Kigezi region has sued four members of Kigezi Iron Ore Miners Association for alleged defamation.
The accused are Dr. Narcis Kabatereine, the chairperson of Kigezi Iron Ore Miners Association and retired vector control official in the Ministry of Health, Pierre Mbabazi, the Rubanda District Deputy Speaker, Turinawe Henry Wachaga, and Godfrey Binaisa.
Last week, more than 32 members of Kigezi Iron Ore Miners Association rose up in protest accusing Kamuntu Investment Uganda Limited of gross exploitation including nonpayment for four years, violating environmental protection laws and arbitrarily slashing the price of ore. They argued that the company had started well until 2017 when it started exporting raw iron ore without paying them.
They claim that the company owes them more than Shillings 2billion. They also claimed that Kamuntu Investment Uganda Limited, which belongs to the Rubanda West County member of parliament arbitrarily slashed the price of iron ore stones from Shillings 150,000 to Shillings 80,000 per ELF truck, which carries two tonnes.
They also argued that despite the fact that the company holds an exploration license that only allows him to explore the minerals, it is engaged in mining. They also accused the company of failure to observe environment protection guidelines.
A team of officials from the Energy and Mineral Development Ministry led by Engineer Joseph Okedi, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Inspection and monitoring, Robert Mufuta, the Kigezi Region Minerals Inspector and Assistant Superintendent of Police Barnabas Banyenzaki, the Kigezi region Officer in Charge of Police Minerals protection Unit visited Rubanda district last week month to investigate the matter and promised to hold another meeting in February 2022 over the same matter.
After the meeting, artisanal miners closed Karukara iron ore mines in Hamurwa sub-county, one of the biggest mines in Kigezi, and threatened to shed blood should any of Kamuntu’s employees step foot there. On Wednesday evening, Kabale High Court Assistant Registrar, Julius Chaka Borore invited Kabatereine, Mbabazi, and Binaisa to file their defense on the defamation charges within 15days.
Through his lawyers of M/S Beitwenda and company Advocates, Kamuntu accuses the trio and others of defaming him through media. He also argues that Mbabazi is not a resident of Rubanda district and his company has never employed any of those demanding payment.
Kamuntu wants the trio to pay him Shillings 2 billion in damages and issue to him a public apology.
Dr. Kabatereine and Mbabazi could not be reached for comment as they did not pick calls from our reporter to their cellphones. Binaisa told URN that he is yet to be served. He insists that Kamuntu must pay him, adding that he is ready to defend himself.
