Tension remains high at St. John’s Church of Uganda Parish in Upper Bugongi after Tera Industrial Development Company was given a seven-day ultimatum to suspend and remove its iron ore exploration equipment from disputed church land in Rwanshunju Cell, Northern Division, Kabale Municipality.
The directive was issued during an impromptu meeting convened at St. John’s Church of Uganda Parish and chaired by environmental police officials following protests by Christians on Sunday evening. Christians blocked the Chinese-owned company from allegedly commencing iron ore exploration activities on church land without the knowledge or consent of the congregation.
Christians who gathered at the disputed land questioned how the company accessed the property and began setting up exploration equipment without involving church members and leaders.
The head of Environmental Police in the Kigezi region, Robert Amanya, said the meeting was called to establish whether there was any formal agreement between Tera Industrial Development Company and the church regarding the exploration activities.
CUE IN AMANYA……ON DEAL……RR//
Collins Kahesi Saturday, the Chairperson of Planning at St. John’s Bugongi Parish, said he received reports from concerned residents at around 3:00 p.m. indicating that Chinese nationals had begun installing mining equipment on the land.
Saturday noted that residents had already raised concerns that the exploration works could damage nearby houses. He proposed that the contractor signs a formal agreement with the church and that all documents already signed be suspended until the grievances raised by Christians are resolved.
CUE IN SATURDAY…..ON DEAL……RR//
The Parish Priest of St. John’s Church of Uganda Parish in the Diocese of Kigezi, Rev. Henry Nzaana, dismissed allegations that he had sold church land to the company. He said he was only aware of discussions regarding iron ore exploration and denied claims that the church had finalized any mining agreement.
Rev. Nzaana explained that in 2024 several companies expressed interest in hiring the church land for iron ore exploration. He said that on August 29, 2025, the church’s Finance and Lands Committee approved Tera Industrial Development Company’s application to explore the land, but no binding agreement had yet been signed between the church and the company.
According to Rev. Nzaana, the committee resolved that any exploration activities would only proceed with guidance and approval from the Diocese leadership. He added that he had already informed the Bishop about the proposed project and was still awaiting feedback.
He also criticized some Christians for accusing him of selling church land and challenged those making the allegations to produce evidence instead of tarnishing his name. However, Rev. Nzaana maintained that the resolutions made by the parish council regarding the project would remain in force.
CUE IN REV NZAANA….ON DEAL….RR//
Flex Basigire, a church member, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the company from the land, arguing that the process was conducted fraudulently. He accused the parish priest of working with a section of council members to push through the project without wider consultation.
CUE IN BASIGIRE…..ON DEAL…..RR//
Joy Rukampena, the Chairperson of the Land and Finance Committee, said discussions about iron ore exploration on the church land have been ongoing for nearly three years at parish and archdeaconry levels.
She revealed that the parish council eventually adopted the proposal to explore iron ore, with 19 members voting in favor and six opposing it. However, she faulted the company for commencing exploration activities before the church secured a land title and before church leaders were fully informed.
CUE IN RUKAMPENA…..ON DEAL…..RR//
Katarikawe Joshua, a member of the parish council, also questioned the transparency of the deal. He said several companies had previously expressed interest in exploring the iron ore, adding that it was irregular for the church to allegedly accept Shs 1 Billion before proper procedures were followed.
Brian Munanura, the Deputy General Manager of Tera Industrial Development Company, defended the company’s activities, saying it holds a government-issued prospecting license valid from 2025 to 2029 to assess the quality and quantity of minerals on the land.
Munanura emphasized that minerals belong to the government and explained that landowners are only required to recommend exploration companies to the Ministry of Energy before exploration begins. He clarified that the company currently possesses an exploration license and not a mining lease, noting that acquiring a mining lease could take several years.
Munanura further stated that under the law, individuals cannot stop a company licensed by the government from carrying out exploration activities. He warned that government security agencies would intervene against anyone obstructing lawful exploration operations.
However, he agreed to temporarily remove the exploration equipment within one week pending further discussions and the signing of a formal agreement with church leaders. He also accepted a proposal for church representatives to supervise the exploration process to ensure transparency.
CUE IN MUNANURA……ON WEEK…..RR//
