FORTPORTAL: POLICE DEPLOYED TO DISPERSE FURY POZZOLANA MINERS

By Sylivia Kugonza

www.mknewslink.com

In FortPortal

Police in Fort portal led by the Kabarole district police commander Jamal Kanyesigye deployed officers in Kichwamba Sub County on 17^thmay2019 disperse angry pozzolana miners who were protesting against Hima cement and the chairperson pozzolana miners, transporters and drivers association over persistent mistreatment.

The miners who were rowdy blocked the Kichwamba-Saka Road denying trucks that were carrying pozzolana to Hima cement factory saying that they will not let them go until leaders intervene into their grievances.

In March 2019 Hima cement and pozzolana miners’ transporters drivers association limited signed an MOU after five year fighting allowing both miners from Kicwamba and Harugongo Sub counties under their association pozzolana miners, transporters and drivers association to serve pozzolana to Hima cement which has since been denied

In the MOU, the two parties agreed that, Hima cement to let miners be first beneficiaries, Hima cement buy 1 turn of pozzolana at 25000shs, miner avoid using school children and Hima ensure that there is sanitation and hygiene in the area, use of protective gears among others.

According toJames Alimpa, also a pozoolaner miner, they have observed that in the agreement signed, Kicwamaba pozzolana miners were not considered but only Harugogo.

In November last year Ministry of energy and mineral development suspended the use of excavator by royal transit company in the pozolana mining in the sub counties of Harugongo and Kichwamba.

Meanwhile the Kabarole district police commander Jamal Kanyesiyge promised the protesters to call for a meeting for both parties to listen to grievances thus urging them to stay calm.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106