Mineral Police Resumes Operations against Illegal Transportation of Marble

The Mineral Police in Karamoja has resumed operations against illegal mining activities, including the transportation of marble and limestone from the region.

The operation targets mineral dealers, especially transporters of minerals from Karamoja without licenses. Led by Abdul Mulawa, the Karamoja Mineral Police Commander, the operation commenced on Wednesday along the Moroto- Soroti road, focusing on mineral dealers who have not renewed their licenses.

It follows a report from the Karamoja Minerals Inspector, Gerald Eneku, indicating that more than a billion shillings have not been paid by the companies and individuals transporting marble from Karamoja. The said money is compiled for the calendar year 2024.

According to Eneku’s report, at least eight trucks of 40 tonnes each leave Moroto for different destinations every day with limestone. The report indicates that almost all the dealers have not paid royalties amounting to close to two billion shillings for 2024 alone. Each ton of limestone is charged 20,000 Shillings, thus, every truck leaving Moroto with limestone is expected to pay a minimum of 800,000 as royalties per day.

The report indicates that some of the mineral dealers have demand notices of up to 200 million Shillings, and yet they continue to carry limestone from Moroto uninterrupted. 

Last year, there was a clash between Muwala and the Mines Inspector for the region, Gerald Eneku, who the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development deploys. The issue arose when Eneku reportedly ordered the impoundment of trucks whose mineral dealers had outstanding demand notices.

It is reported that the order was not executed by the mineral police personnel, citing irregularities. When contacted, Muwala said that some of the trucks carrying limestone are from companies that have already been licensed by the ministry to carry out mining. “The mineral dealers’ licenses expire by December 31st, but there are some trucks which carry limestone of companies which have mining leases like Tororo Cement, Subelt and Sunbird companies. We check all these details before impounding the truck,” he said before adding their work as mineral police personnel to enforce the law.

The results of the recent airborne geophysical and geological mapping of Karamoja minerals indicate that the region has more than 300 million tonnes of Limestone/Marble in the Moroto, Kotido, and Napak districts. However, there are concerns of no payment and remittance of royalties to the Karamoja districts.

Michael Akol, the LCIII Chairman of Katikekile Sub County, says that besides noncompliance by the companies to pay royalties, there’s also under-declaration by the companies since the government doesn’t have a weighbridge. Akol’s remarks are contained in the report by the Advocates for Natural Resources and Development (ANARDE), 2021.