A parliamentary committee has recommended that State Minister for Finance-in-charge of Privatization and Investment Evelyn Anite should resign for her alleged role in terminating a 25-year concession agreement with Tibet Hima Mining Company, a Chinese firm that had been tasked with reviving and operating Kilembe Mines.
The chairperson of Parliament’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Mr Herbert Ariko, while presenting their report findings in the House on Wednesday, said Ms Anite should be held liable for not following due processes such as consulting the Attorney General before what he described as unfair termination of Tibet’s concession agreement.
“The Committee recommends that the Minister for State Finance and Economic Development in charge of investment and privatisation is held liable and is cautioned for not following due process resulting in the untold loss to government and the petitioner,” he said.
“Two, government officials that cause similar losses to government should be held personally liable for their actions, inactions and omissions,” he added.
The dispute followed a petition filed by Tibet Hima in April 2024, calling for a parliamentary investigation into what they claimed were unjust circumstances surrounding the termination of their contract. The committee’s subsequent inquiry found the process surrounding the concession’s cancellation questionable, prompting calls for Minister Anite to step aside.
Minister Anite, however, defended her decision, asserting that the termination was in Uganda’s best interest.
“The contract was signed before I assumed office in 2016, and I have acted to protect the country’s resources,” she said.
“But I am not going to resign because I did the right thing for the justice of the country. I actually expected to be given a medal by the Committee for serving the government of Uganda and the citizens of this country from the robbery of 30, 000 minerals of the people of Uganda,” she added.
The minister added that President Yoweri Museveni, in his recent budget address, hinted at actions to combat corruption in public offices, which she believes aligns with her efforts.
Her statement that the termination resulted in the loss of 1 million potential jobs sparked skepticism among lawmakers.
Mr Ariko questioned the figure, asking for the basis of her calculation. “A claim of 1 million lost jobs is extraordinary. We need to see the evidence supporting this projection,” Ariko remarked.
Minister Anite, however, stood by her assertion, arguing that the mine’s rich mineral resources could create vast employment opportunities.
“In my own businesses, which include hospitality and manufacturing, I’ve seen how small investments can create hundreds of jobs. Kilembe Mines has the potential to generate far more,” she said.
Despite her defence, Parliament adopted the committee’s report, signaling growing frustration with the controversy surrounding the failed concession. The decision has sparked debate about the management of Uganda’s natural resources and the government’s role in fostering investment while ensuring accountability.
