Ibrahim Kasita
18 August 2008
Kampala — THE Government is to prosecute illegal exporters of scrap metal, the tourism, trade and industry minister has said.
Janat Mukwaya said in a statement that the Government would conduct a rigorous surveillance exercise to crack down the illegal exporters.
"Shipping companies and transporters are notified to avoid transporting metal scrap for export," she warned.
"In the event of identifying any scrap consignment destined for export, the local leaders should inform the nearest Police station/Uganda Revenue Authority office to enable the arrest and prosecution of the law-breakers."
"Unscrupulous people continue to export metal scrap in total disregard of the law," Mukwaya said.
"The continued illegal export is responsible for the low production capacity of the local steel mills, which has strained industrial activity in the sector in addition to the illegal scrap export being partly responsible for the theft of power transmission lines."
Already Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to suspend trade in metals in order to fight electrical and water equipment vandalism which has hit the East African region.
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