Archival Sense
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- Dec 16, 2025
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A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer and two other suspects have been charged before the General Court Martial over allegations of defrauding an investor of about UGX13 billion in a fake gold deal.
The suspects are Major Nicholas Ntakirwa, also known as Gen James, who is attached to the Land Forces Directorate of Operations; Mohammed Ali, a director at Duck Hunter Security Company Limited; and businessman Besigye Trevor.
The three were arraigned by the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), on charges of obtaining money by false pretences and scandalous conduct.
They have been remanded until November 16, 2026.
According to the prosecution, in September 2025, Ntakirwa, allegedly posing as Gen James and acting with the assistance of Ali and Besigye, obtained USD2.4 million, equivalent to about UGX13 billion, from Gafar Ibrahim Mohammed Elsawi, an investor associated with MAPSCO General Trading LLC.
The suspects allegedly presented the money as payment for 30 kilogrammes of gold that they claimed they would sell and export to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but which they allegedly did not have for sale.
The alleged transaction took place on September 22, 2025, at the offices of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited in Muyenga, Makindye Division, Kampala.
Prosecutors further allege that on September 29, 2025, the suspects obtained another USD120,000, worth more than UGX500 million, from the same investor, claiming the money would be paid to the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), when it was not intended for that purpose.
The prosecution says the alleged conduct contravened the standards of discipline and conduct expected of members of the defence forces. Other suspects are reportedly still at large.
Courtesy photos
