Uganda’s State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), has arrested seven individuals accused of defrauding a Nigerian businessman of USD 70,000 in an elaborate fake gold scheme.
The group — four Congolese nationals and three Ugandans — allegedly posed as suppliers and agents for Legacy Refinery Limited and Emerod Agency Limited, persuading Mr. Mark Gbillah that they could supply seven kilograms of gold. Investigations later confirmed that the companies had no genuine gold.
Those arrested include Paluku Kisasi, Safari Akonkwa, Isaac Mpende, Abdul Madjid Kahirima, Mabwongo Prince, Kajjubi Tevin Kyome, and Tibasiima Barbra, also known as Katushabe Sharon.
According to SH-ACU Senior Officer Mr. Bamwiine Muhorozi, the operation was triggered by a complaint from the victim. Working with Mr. Gbillah, officials arranged a controlled meeting with the suspects, leading to their arrest before they could demand more money.
A search of their rented property in Muyenga uncovered about 150 kilograms of counterfeit gold bars and imitation nuggets, allegedly used to deceive investors.
The arrests come amid a rising trend of gold fraud targeting foreign businesspeople. Earlier this year, a Turkish investor lost Shs 550 million (USD 150,000) in a similar scam, while in 2024 another businessman was swindled out of USD 105,000 in a fake 20-kilogram gold deal. Regional data indicates that between early 2021 and March 2022, investors in Uganda and Kenya lost an estimated USD 25 million to such schemes.
Mr. Bamwiine noted that while SH-ACU has intercepted several gold scams in recent years, this case was notable because the suspects were caught in the act. He advised investors to verify transactions with relevant authorities and report any suspicious activity promptly.
The suspects will be charged in court in the coming days.
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