NTAWURIKURA RosineMartin NIYOMUNGERI, a resident of Rubuye village in Kabagesera cell, Runda sector of Kamonyi district, is appealing to authorities for assistance in managing the valuable minerals found on his land. According to NIYOMUNGERI, contractors who come to mine these stones do so by initially threatening residents, leaving landowners feeling intimidated and accepting minimal compensation out of fear.
“Our land has valuable stones, but we have no rights to them. Contractors arrive claiming they have the authority to move across properties and mountains, giving landowners only a small amount that barely benefits us. They use intimidation, and we feel we have no choice but to accept. Local leaders don’t support us either; we suspect contractors may be bribing them,” he said.
NIYOMUNGERI is urging the government to intervene, hoping they can help ensure that both residents and the nation benefit from the mineral wealth in their fields.
“We have land rich in precious stones that could generate wealth for the country and ourselves. But due to these contractors’ methods, they often evade paying taxes and take advantage of us as minority landowners. We want the government to engage with us and discuss fair compensation for the minerals they extract.”
When I attempted to contact a contractor accused of threatening residents, he refused to speak. Upon learning I was a journalist, he immediately disconnected his phone and remained unreachable for the remainder of this report.
Oreste Mukiza, a communications officer at the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board, explained the responsibilities of licensed contractors, noting that miners and landowners are required to negotiate a fair price for mined stones. If an agreement cannot be reached, local authorities and district officials are expected to intervene to mediate, prioritizing public interest.
Rwanda’s mining law, Law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018, states that anyone mining, processing, or trading minerals without a permit is committing a crime. Conviction may result in imprisonment of two to six months, a fine between one million and five million Rwandan francs, or both. Confiscation of illegally obtained or processed minerals may also be ordered.
