A Kampala court has remanded a suspected fraudster accused of masterminding a $150,000 gold scam targeting a Malaysian national, as authorities intensify investigations into an alleged network involved in illegal gold trading and forgery.
The accused, Ssentumbwe James, was arraigned before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working jointly with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Court heard that Ssentumbwe faces several charges including obtaining money by false pretence, carrying out refining, smelting, processing and trading in minerals without a licence, conspiracy to defraud, and forgery.
The prosecution alleges that in January 2026, at Muyonyo in Makindye Division, Ssentumbwe conspired with another suspect identified as Kibuye Adams Yawe, who remains at large, to defraud a Malaysian investor, Kon Kin Kheong, of USD 150,000 (about Shs560 million).
According to investigators, the suspects allegedly obtained the money under the false pretext that it was required to process documentation for the export of 50 kilograms of gold to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Authorities further allege that the scheme relied heavily on deception and impersonation, with Kibuye reportedly projecting influence and authority to convince the victim that the transaction was legitimate.
Investigators say Kibuye was found in possession of a forged State House identity card purportedly identifying him as a political mobiliser, which he allegedly used to gain the trust of the foreign investor and facilitate the fraudulent deal.
The court remanded Ssentumbwe until 6 March 2026 as investigations continue.
Officials from the Anti-Corruption Unit said detectives are pursuing other suspects believed to have participated in the operation. Some of the individuals are reportedly linked to Hey Transporters and Logistics, a company based in Lweza–Lubowa, where the suspects allegedly ran illegal gold “processing” activities at an unlicensed refinery.
Authorities say the ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the wider network behind fraudulent gold deals that often target foreign investors seeking to purchase minerals from Uganda.
Uganda has in recent years faced repeated cases of gold-related scams involving international investors, prompting security agencies to tighten enforcement against unlicensed mineral dealers and fraudulent exporters.
If convicted, the suspects could face lengthy prison sentences under Uganda’s laws governing fraud, mineral trading and forgery.
