The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) in Uganda, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), has arrested seven people accused of defrauding a Nigerian businessman of $70,000 in a fake gold deal.
At a press briefing at the Parliamentary Building, SH-ACU Senior Officer Bamwiine Muhorozi said the suspects deceived the victim, identified as Mark Gbillah, into believing they could sell him seven kilograms of gold through their companies, Legacy Refinery Limited and Emerod Agency Limited.
Investigations later confirmed that neither company possessed any gold.
The suspects — identified as Paluku Kisasi (Congolese), Safari Akonkwa (Congolese), Isaac Mpende (Congolese), Abdul Madjid Kahirima (Ugandan), Mabwongo Prince (Congolese), Kajjubi Tevin Kyome (Ugandan), and Tibasiima Barbra, also known as Katushabe Sharon (Ugandan) — allegedly took on various roles, posing as gold sellers, clearing agents, company representatives, and a secretary to execute the scam.
Bamwiine said the arrests followed a swift report by Gbillah, which enabled SH-ACU to set up a controlled meeting with the suspects. “We managed to apprehend them before they could extort more funds,” he noted.
A search at the suspects’ rented premises in Muyenga, Kampala, led to the discovery of about 150 kilograms of fake gold bars and imitation gold nuggets, which authorities believe were used to trick other potential victims.
Bamwiine described the case as significant because the suspects were caught in the act, adding that similar scams had been intercepted in the past. He urged investors to verify the authenticity of any gold or business deals with relevant authorities and to promptly report suspicious activity.
The suspects are expected to be charged in court in the coming days.
