Four police officers remanded over sh14b gold scam
On August 31, they appeared before City Hall Court Magistrate Nicholas Aisu and were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a felony. They all denied the charge.
THE accused police officers in the dock at City Hall court, where they were charged and remanded until September 7, 2026. (Photo by Margret Zalwango)
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Four Police officers have been arraigned in court over a sh14 billion gold scam and are currently remanded at Luzira Prison.
The officers are Siraj Waiswa, 30, who is attached to the Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VIPPU) and resides in Nabweru, Wakiso district; Razak Emorut, 26, also from the VIPPU, who lives at Kabalagala police barracks; Benon Waiswa, 30, who is part of the counter-terrorism tactical unit and resides at Naguru police barracks; and Ayub Kulutu, 30, who is attached to the counter-terrorism unit under the VIPPU and also lives in Naguru barracks.
On August 31, they appeared before City Hall Court Magistrate Nicholas Aisu and were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a felony. They all denied the charge.
The prosecution, led by state attorney Mercy Yamangusho, states that the officers, along with others including Moses Asiimwe, Doldly Charly Amata, Muhoya Kilyobo, Solieil Nakahosa, Dickens Junior Kagarura, Thiery Songole, and other individuals still at large, conspired between July 2025 and May 2026 to obtain $4 million (over sh14 billion) through false pretences.
From Left: Police officers Kulutu, Waiswa, Emorut, and Waiswa Siraje in the dock at City Hall Magistrates' Court, where they were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. They were remanded to Luzira until September 7, 2026. (Photo by Margret Zalwango)
The charge sheet also states that between July 2025 and May 2026, in Kololo, Kampala, Asiimwe, Amata, and others who are still at large allegedly obtained $4 million from Catillo Paredes with the intent to defraud. They falsely pretended to facilitate the shipping of 300 kilograms of gold to Dubai, which was not the case.
Additionally, it is alleged that during the same period, Asiimwe and the others, still at large, were found in possession of 190 gold bars and 32 kilograms of gold nuggets without holding a mineral dealer's license or the necessary import and export permits, as required by the Mining and Minerals Act of 2022.
Others on the run
The prosecution informed the court that investigations are still ongoing, and the search for additional suspects continues.
The court learned that some of the accused individuals had previously been remanded on the same charges. They were remanded to Luzira on September 7, 2026, as the inquiries proceed.
Officers face dismissal
Earlier in the day, police authorities revealed that the four police officers were convicted and recommended for dismissal or discharge from the force for allegedly abandoning their official duties to guard a fake gold syndicate involved in a $4m (sh14.2b) fraud scheme.
The officers were among 16 suspects arrested in a joint operation by police and the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) following a complaint by a Dubai-based businessman, who alleged that he had been defrauded of $4m through a fake gold deal.
Speaking during the weekly police briefing at Naguru in Kampala on Monday (August 31), Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said the complainant reported that Asimwe and his accomplices, operating under Rio Sunex Limited, had fraudulently obtained the money from him.
He said security teams subsequently laid a trap that led to the arrest of the 16 suspects, including Asimwe, who police identified as the prime suspect.
The other suspects are Congolese national Rogers Mbenge, Edward Kiwanuka, Geoffrey Kajubi, Songole, Bright Ajambo, Amata, Nakahosa, Grace Leta and Mbasa Taboma, as well as Ugandans William Masaba, Joseph Walusimbi, Anita Ampaire, Patrick Amani, Christian Mugoya, and Kagarura.
During the operation, security teams recovered suspected fake gold, incriminating documents, and eight motor vehicles allegedly used to facilitate the fraudulent transactions.
Kituuma said investigations also established that four police officers had abandoned their official duties and self-deployed to guard the suspects at an illegal gold refinery where the fraudulent transactions were allegedly being facilitated.
“The officers allegedly withdrew from their respective beats without authorisation and deployed themselves in support of the gold fraud syndicate—a grave breach of police disciplinary and professional conduct,” Kituuma said.
The four officers appeared before the Police Disciplinary Court on Saturday, August 29, where they were tried and convicted.
Kituuma said Kulutu Ayub and Waiswa Benon were recommended for dismissal from the force, while Waiswa Siraje and Emorut Razak were recommended for discharge.
He said the disciplinary action would not shield the officers from prosecution over their alleged involvement in the criminal enterprise.