Kabarole residents demand share of pozzolana revenue

Residents of Harugogo and Kichwamba sub-counties in Kabarole District have petitioned the Resident District Commissioner, Mr Steven Asiimwe, to help push their leaders to account for the royalties paid to the lower local governments by Royal Transit Company.

Since 2014, Royal Transit Company, on behalf of Hima Cement Factory, has been mining pozzolana from the two sub-counties and paying royalties of Shs12 million per quarter, according to records seen from the contractor.

Queries
But the residents say their sub-county leaders have never accounted for this money.
“As you are very well aware that there has been activity of pozzolana mining by Royal Transit Company in the two sub counties for a period of four years, as principle of co-existence this company has been remitting the royalties and these funds have never been declared and accounted for and we humbly request you to intervene and ensure that these funds are declared and accounted for,” the petition to the RDC reads in part.

The Harugogo Sub-county chief, Mr Marvin Magara, said he is not allowed to give accountability but referred us to the chief administrative officer. The petition comes after the Energy ministry last week suspended the use of an excavator by Royal Transit Company from mining pozzolana in the two sub-counties.

This was after over 238 residents from the two sub-counties petitioned the district chairperson to halt the works of the company for using an excavator, rendering about 500 people jobless.