Canadian-based pastor Didier Borromee Bitemo Kifoueti has withdrawn his earlier guilty plea in a suspected $600,000 (about Shs2.2 billion) gold fraud case, telling Kampala City Hall Court that he admitted the charge under pressure and without understanding the court proceedings.
Kifoueti, 55, told Senior Magistrate Edgar Karakire that he had not conspired with his co-accused to defraud Egyptian businessman Ahamed Mossaad Mahmoud Hassan Abouzeid, insisting that the disputed transaction involved a genuine agreement for the purchase of 50 kilogrammes of gold.
His latest position marks a significant turn in the case after he initially pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining money by false pretences during his first appearance in court earlier in October.
“The first day we were here, we did not know we were coming to court to appear. We were under pressure,” Kifoueti reportedly told the court, explaining why he had initially admitted the charge.
He maintained that the complainant had signed a contract to purchase gold that was supposed to be delivered in Dubai. According to Kifoueti, the seller was waiting to meet the buyer in Dubai and the transaction was backed by documentation.
The pastor questioned why he and his co-accused had been arrested over the transaction, arguing that the existence of a signed agreement supported his position that the deal was a commercial arrangement rather than a scheme to obtain money fraudulently.
Dispute over $600,000 payment
Kifoueti also challenged the amount the Egyptian businessman allegedly paid, creating a key point of disagreement between the defence and the prosecution’s account of the transaction.
While Abouzeid reportedly claims to have paid $600,000, Kifoueti told court that the contract reflected a figure of $470,000. He said an email confirmation was available to support his account.
The discrepancy is central to the competing accounts of the alleged gold deal, although the court has yet to determine the facts surrounding the payments or whether the accused obtained the money through false pretences.
Kifoueti further complained that his continued detention had separated him from his family and church in Canada. He said the confiscation of his phones had made it difficult to communicate with his lawyer in Canada and prepare his defence.
He also told court that he was unwell and struggling to understand the proceedings.
Three accused over alleged gold deal
Kifoueti is jointly charged with Marcel Christian Nyamoutet, a 48-year-old Cameroonian national and information technology manager, and Hassan Katende, 37, a Ugandan national.
According to the prosecution, the three accused and others still at large allegedly obtained $600,000 from Abouzeid between January and February 2026 at Serena Hotel in Kampala by falsely claiming that they were selling him 50 kilogrammes of gold.
They also face a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony, with the prosecution alleging that they acted together to obtain the money through the purported transaction.
Court records cited in earlier reports indicate that Nyamoutet allegedly introduced Abouzeid to the deal before connecting him with Kifoueti, who was presented as a representative of the purported seller, identified as a Congolese national named Rajabu Mwami.
The complainant reportedly said a company was expected to handle documentation, taxes, shipping and exportation of the gold. He alleged that he paid money towards the transaction after an agreement had been drafted and signed.
The accused persons’ alleged involvement and the circumstances surrounding the promised gold remain matters for determination by the court.
Prosecution says investigations are complete
State Attorney Miriam Akite told court that investigations into the case had been completed and requested an early hearing date.
Akite said the complainant wanted to return to Egypt, making an early hearing desirable.
Senior Magistrate Karakire subsequently adjourned the case to November 4, 2026, for hearing.
The proceedings will provide an opportunity for the court to examine the prosecution’s allegations alongside the defence’s account of the disputed gold transaction.
Kifoueti’s latest position comes after his initial guilty plea attracted attention during the case’s first appearance. His claim that he acted under pressure and did not understand the proceedings now raises questions that must be addressed through the court process.
The accused remain entitled to a fair hearing, and the allegations against them have not been established by a final court determination.
