Police is accused of harassing small scale miners
MPs have accused Police’s Mineral Protection Unit of engaging in illegal mining activities and harassing small scale miners.
The MPs now want Government to disband it.
MPs made the remarks yesterday after Minister of Internal affairs Abubakar Jeje Odongo presented a ministerial statement on the legality, structure, composition and operations of the Police Mineral Protection Unit in the country during a plenary chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.
Nsamba Oshabe Patrick, the Kasanda North MP said Police’s Mineral Protection Unit is the only one benefiting from the ‘disorganised miners’ and it’s only the miners who are known to Police that are allowed to carry out the mining business.
The lawmaker alleged that Museveni’s brother, Aine Kaguta is the commandant of all the mines who chooses who he deploys in the mining areas.
Gonzaga Joseph Ssewungu, the Kalungu West MP re-tabled the 19 list of police commandants managing the Beach management Units whose origin is from the western region.
He added that at the right time they will fully present faces of these police commanders from one region allegedly stealing the minerals.
Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, Kasambya County MP wondered why only the gold mines are being protected by the mineral police yet other minerals in other places are inadequately protected.
However, the minister of Internal affairs Jeje Odongo said the establishment of Police Mineral Protection Unit is done under the powers of the IGP in accordance with the constitution to prevent and detect crimes.
