On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Rwanda Investigative Bureau (RIB) officials engaged residents in Rulindo District, Northern Province, to address crime prevention strategies, focusing heavily on illegal mining—a critical issue in Masoro Sector, home to the Rutongo mining area.
Mining is a cornerstone of livelihoods in the area, but its unregulated practices pose legal and environmental challenges. Key figures at the event included RIB’s Officer in charge of crime prevention, Ntirenganya Jean Claude; Northern Province Governor, Mugabowagahunde Maurice; Rulindo District Mayor, Mukanyirigira Judith; Masoro Sector Executive Secretary, Rutazirwa Theogene; Northern Province’s Inkeragutabara Chairman, Lt Colonel Charles Kamali, and other notable attendees.
Ntirenganya Jean Claude Speaks on Shared Responsibility:
Ntirenganya Jean Claude outlined the significant repercussions of illegal mining and emphasized collective responsibility in crime prevention. He highlighted, "Crime prevention is not solely the duty of RIB; it’s a shared obligation of all citizens. Crimes can't be prevented by one individual or agency alone. It requires collective action, as these crimes impact us all."
Strict Penalties for Illegal Mining and Quarrying:
He explained that unauthorized mining and quarrying are punishable offenses under laws enacted in June last year governing mineral and quarry exploitation. "Article 63 states that all mineral extraction activities must have authorization—it’s a criminal offense if conducted without it," he said. Those convicted face imprisonment of 2 to 5 years, with fines ranging from 25 million RWF to 50 million RWF.
Residents were warned that illegally extracted minerals would be confiscated, and offenders would be responsible for rehabilitating affected sites and repairing damaged infrastructure. Compensation is also mandated for affected community property.
Similarly, illegal quarrying—a frequent occurrence in the region—is criminalized under Article 67, with penalties including imprisonment for 2 to 6 months or fines ranging from 1 million RWF to 3 million RWF.
Possession and Trade of Illegal Minerals:
Possession of unlawfully acquired minerals is equally punishable. "Illegal possession of minerals is a crime often involving dealers who store these in homes, workplaces, or specialized locations for trade," Ntirenganya explained. Convictions lead to 1 to 3 years of imprisonment or fines between 30 million RWF and 60 million RWF, with confiscated minerals auctioned by law.
He added, "Illegal trade carries harsher penalties: imprisonment from 5 to 10 years and fines ranging from 60 million RWF to 120 million RWF."
Landowners Face Accountability:
Landowners permitting illegal activities on their property are not exempt from prosecution. "Property owners allowing illegal mining face imprisonment for 1 to 2 years or fines ranging from 25 million RWF to 50 million RWF," informed Ntirenganya.
Quarry-related violations on private land lead to penalties of 2 to 6 months’ imprisonment or fines of 1 million RWF to 3 million RWF.
Additional Legal Violations:
Ntirenganya discussed cases where individuals fail to disclose the origin of minerals in their possession. Such violations result in fines equaling 10% of the mineral value, with the minerals confiscated.
Licensed operators also face scrutiny for non-compliance, such as failing to submit required reports, maintain proper documentation, or notify authorities before halting operations. Relocation and damage to boundary markers are punishable by fines of 10 million RWF and 5 million RWF respectively, while quarry-related marker violations incur a 500,000 RWF fine.
Site Rehabilitation Violations:
Under Article 55, failure to restore excavated sites results in fines between 5 million RWF and 10 million RWF. Offenders are mandated to rectify any damage caused to the environment or public infrastructure. Quarry rehabilitation violations carry fines of 3 million RWF to 5 million RWF.
Neglecting Health and Safety Standards:
Operators failing to comply with mandatory mining health and safety standards face fines ranging from 1 to 3 million RWF. Environmental damage or harm to neighboring properties incurs larger fines of 3 million RWF to 5 million RWF.
Encouraging Cooperative Participation:
Given frequent issues related to illegal mining, Masoro residents were encouraged to form cooperatives or seek lawful mining employment. This approach ensures sustainable livelihoods while mitigating poverty and avoiding legal repercussions.
The RIB campaign served to educate the public on the consequences of illegal mining, while urging compliance with laws to protect both the environment and livelihoods