Rwanda National Police

Police and local authorities in the City of Kigali have identified a house in Kigali Sector of Nyarugenge District that was being used by illegal miners as their store.

The house was located over the weekend following information about people, who carryout mining activities and related businesses, illegally.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorrett Umutesi, said that assorted consignments of minerals were recovered in the house belonging to the couple; Martin Bucyana and Clementine Mutesi located in Gisenga Village, Kigali Cell of Kigali Sector in Nyarugenge District.

“There was information that Bucyana is involved in illegal mineral business with other people, and their house was being used as store,” CIP Umutesi said.

“Police and local leaders, on Saturday, raided their house where they recovered 57kgs of cassiterite and other assorted minerals that are yet to be established. The suspect [Bucyana] managed to escape the arrest but law enforcement agencies are working together to bring him to justice,” she added.

The recovery of minerals in the couple’s house and the search for Bucyana come less than two months after her wife was also released from prison for the same crime.

CIP Umutesi warned against such unlawful acts and called upon the public to continue sharing information on related illegal activities, which are also “not environmental friendly and risky as in some cases they result into disasters and loss of lives.”

Article 54 the Law on mining and quarry operations in Rwanda, specifies that “Any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.”

It further states that upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two months and not more than six months and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf5 million, or only one of these penalties.

The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals in storage or quarry.