A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer and two other suspects have been arraigned before the General Court Martial over allegations of obtaining money by false pretences in a gold deal involving a foreign investor, with the total amount reportedly exceeding Shs13 billion.
The suspects are Major Nicholas Ntakirwa, also known as Gen James, a UPDF officer attached to the Directorate of Operations in the Land Forces; Mohammed Ali, a director at Duck Hunter Security Company Limited; and businessman Trevor Besigye.
They were charged with obtaining money by false pretences and scandalous conduct following a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The three suspects were remanded until November 16, 2026.
Prosecution alleges that in September 2025, Ntakirwa, allegedly assisted by Ali and Besigye, presented himself as Gen James and obtained money from Gafar Ibrahim Mohammed Elsawi, an investor associated with MAPSCO General Trading LLC, under the pretext of selling and exporting gold to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to the allegations, the suspects and other individuals who are still at large obtained USD 2.4 million, equivalent to approximately Shs13 billion, from Elsawi on September 22, 2025, at the offices of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited in Muyenga, Makindye Division, Kampala.
The prosecution alleges that the money was obtained under the false representation that the suspects were selling and arranging the export of 30 kilogrammes of gold to Dubai, yet they had no intention of fulfilling the transaction as presented.
The suspects are further accused of obtaining an additional USD 120,000, equivalent to more than Shs500 million, from the same investor on September 29, 2025.
Prosecution alleges that the additional payment was solicited under the pretext that the money would be paid to the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), when it was not intended for that purpose.
The alleged transactions form the basis of the charges against the three suspects, although the allegations have not been established in court.
The prosecution also contends that the conduct attributed to Ntakirwa was contrary to the morality, order and expectations of the Code of Conduct for the Defence Forces.
The case is expected to return to court on November 16, 2026, when the suspects are due to appear again.
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