Court has remanded a man accused of carrying out a gold scam worth $150,000 (about Shs585 million).
James Ssentumbwe appeared before the Makindye Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after his arrest in an operation led by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working together with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was remanded to prison until March 6, 2026.
Prosecutors told court that in January 2026, Ssentumbwe and another suspect, Adams Kibuye Yawe, who is still on the run, allegedly defrauded a Malaysian businessman, Kon Kin Kheong, in a fake gold deal.
The suspects reportedly convinced the investor to send $150,000, claiming the money was needed to process export documents for 50 kilograms of gold that was supposedly being shipped to Dubai. Investigators say the claim was false and the gold export never existed.
Authorities also say the scam involved impersonation and misuse of authority. Kibuye was allegedly found with a forged State House identity card identifying him as a “Political Mobiliser”, which he used to appear influential and credible.
Further investigations have linked the suspects to illegal gold processing activities in Wakiso District. The operations were allegedly being conducted at an unlicensed refinery connected to Hey Transporters and Logistics in the Lweza–Lubowa area.
Security agencies say investigations are still ongoing as they search for Kibuye and other suspected accomplices believed to be involved in the fraudulent scheme.
