A high-stakes fake gold transaction has been stopped in its tracks following a coordinated sting operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
Seven suspects were arrested after allegedly attempting to defraud Nigerian businessman Mark Gbillah of USD 70,000 in exchange for seven kilograms of gold that never existed.
Senior Officer Bamwiine Muhorozi confirmed the arrests during a press briefing held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
He said the deal was orchestrated through two companies — Legacy Refinery Limited and Emerod Agency Limited — neither of which holds any genuine gold.
The arrested suspects were identified as Paluku Kisasi, a Congolese national and alleged gold seller; Safari Akonkwa, a Congolese national and alleged clearing agent for Legacy Refinery; Isaac Mpende, a Congolese national and alleged agent at Legacy Refinery Limited; Abdul Madjid Kahirima, a Ugandan national and alleged gold smelter; Mabwongo Prince, a Congolese national and alleged gold seller from Congo; Kajjubi Tevin Kyome, a Ugandan national and representative of Emerod Co. Ltd; and Barbra Tibasiima, also known as Katushabe Sharon, a Ugandan national and Secretary of Emerod Co. Ltd.
Muhorozi praised Gbillah’s swift action in reporting the scam attempt, which allowed authorities to set up a controlled meeting with the suspects.
The suspects were intercepted before they could receive the payment or continue the fraud with other potential victims.
“A subsequent search of the suspects’ rented premises in Muyenga uncovered approximately 150 kilograms of fake gold bars and imitation nuggets used in the fraudulent scheme,” Muhorozi revealed.
He noted that while gold scams are not new, this case stood out because the arrests happened during an ongoing fraudulent transaction, saving investors from further losses.
Muhorozi advised members of the public and potential investors to verify the authenticity of any gold-related transactions with authorized bodies before committing money.
He also urged the public to remain alert to fraudsters and to report suspicious activities immediately.
The suspects remain in custody and will be charged in court.
Authorities reiterated their determination to dismantle economic crime networks and protect Uganda’s business environment from fraudulent actors.
