KAMPALA
A Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) officer and two other suspects have been arraigned before the General Court Martial over allegations of defrauding an investor of US$2.4 million (about Shs13 billion) in a purported gold deal.
The suspects were arraigned earlier today by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and scandalous conduct.
They are RO/10262 Maj. Nicholas Ntakirwa (also known as Gen James), a UPDF officer attached to the Directorate of Operations, Land Forces; Mohammed Ali, a director of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited; and businessman Trevor Besigye. The three were remanded until November 16, 2026.
According to the prosecution, in September 2025, Ntakirwa—allegedly aided by Ali and Besigye—presented himself as "Gen James" and fraudulently obtained money from Gafar Ibrahim Mohammed Elsawi, an investor with MAPSCO General Trading LLC.
The prosecution alleges that on September 22, 2025, the suspects and others still at large obtained US$2.4 million from the investor at the offices of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited in Muyenga, Makindye Division, Kampala.
The money was allegedly obtained under the pretext that the suspects were selling and exporting 30 kilograms of gold to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, despite having no intention of fulfilling the transaction.
The prosecution further alleges that on September 29, 2025, the suspects obtained an additional US$120,000 (more than Shs500 million) from the same investor. They allegedly claimed the money was intended as payment to the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), which was false.
The alleged conduct by Ntakirwa is also said to contravene the morality, order, and expectations of the UPDF Code of Conduct. The charges remain allegations, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
