500 POZZOLANA MINERS STORM KABAROLE DISTRICT CHAIRPERSON OFFICES OVER UNEMPLOYMENT

By Sylvia Kugonza
www.mknewslink.com
In Kabarole—

At least 500 Pozzolana miners from Harugongo and Kichwamba sub counties in Kabarole district on Tuesday morning stormed the office of the Kabarole district chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga to hand over their petition seeking his intervention over the current operations of pozzolana business in their area.
Angry residents who trekked from Kyakaigo village Harugongo sub county 4Km to Kabarole district headquarters carrying the petition, went and sat in the district compound until the chairperson met them.
In a letter addressed to the chairperson dated 29th -10-2018, the miners claim that pozzolana mining and selling has been the main activity where they draw their livelihood and development of their area. The residents added that the business generated revenue to their sub counties through tax levy on pozzolana trucks and other taxes resulting from other activities citing of shops and butcheries.
The petitioners explain that since 1994 they have been engaging in pozzolana mining and selling it to Hima cement and employing over 700 people including land owners, miners, loaders and drivers.
However, business took a different shape in 2014 when a company called royal transit owned by one Tadeo Mukonyezi when it entered the business contract with Hima cements which they claim that it left majority jobless.
Royal transit company owner convinced local leaders and residents and introduced one machine which does all the work done by all residents in the two sub counties.
They added that royal transit company is operating illegally without mining license, location license and using excavator in the pozzolana mining which is a crime.
The residents are thus asking the district chairperson to order royal transit company stop its activities from the two sub counties as the residents including land owners have agreed to suspend selling pozzolana to any company until they stop using machines for excavation of pozzolana thus to return their lost jobs.
Rwabhinga however said that the district is set to table the matter in next council sitting to find a solution.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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