News
Govt approves extradition of Katungi to US to face criminal charges
On Monday, Katungi, a leader in the Patriotic League of Uganda, a civic organisation, was arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court following an arrest warrant issued against him on June 23, this year.
Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, a former Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier. (File photo)
By: Charles Etukuri, Journalist @New Vision
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Government has approved the extradition of Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, a former Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier, to the United States of America to face criminal charges
Katungi, who is currently on remand in Luzira Prison, is wanted in the US, where he faces several charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute 5kg or more of cocaine, knowing or intending that it would be unlawfully imported into the US.
He is also accused of conspiracy to possess firearms, including a machine gun and a destructive device, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, as well as conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation.
In a letter dated June 16, 2026, to the Chief Magistrate, Buganda Road, Vicky Nabisenke, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and head of the Department of International Cooperation, confirmed that the extradition had been approved by the Attorney General’s (AG) chambers and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
“On April 7, 2026, the DPP received approval from the AG chambers to extradite Katungi, a Ugandan national believed to be residing in Uganda. He is wanted by the US to stand trial in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on charges of narcotics and firearms trafficking,” Nabisenke said.
Nabisenke informed the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate that the extradition was approved by the AG on the basis that the assistance may be rendered by virtue of the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic and the Extradition Act Cap 124.
“Pursuant to Section 8 of the Extradition Act, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, in his letter dated April 14, 2026, requested you to issue a warrant of arrest for the apprehension of Katungi to pave the way for his surrender to the US. This is therefore to request you for a date to hear the application for the issuance of the said warrant of arrest, pursuant to Section 9 of the Evidence Act, Cap. 124,” Nabisenke added.
She attached a copy of the letter from the AG chambers approving the extradition; a copy of the indictment and warrant of arrest issued against Katungi by the US; and the letter from Norbert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
In his letter dated May 18, 2026, to the Chief Magistrate, Buganda Road, Mao cleared the extradition of Katungi to the US and requested the magistrate, “to issue a warrant for the apprehension of Katungi, pursuant to Section 8 (2) of the Extradition Act, Cap, 124 to pave way for his surrender to the US.”
“On April 7, 2026, the DPP received approval from the AG chambers to extradite Katungi, a Ugandan national believed to be residing in Uganda. He is wanted by the US to stand trial in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on charges of narcotics and firearms trafficking,” Nabisenke said.
Nabisenke informed the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate that the extradition was approved by the AG on the basis that the assistance may be rendered by virtue of the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic and the Extradition Act Cap 124.
“Pursuant to Section 8 of the Extradition Act, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, in his letter dated April 14, 2026, requested you to issue a warrant of arrest for the apprehension of Katungi to pave the way for his surrender to the US. This is therefore to request you for a date to hear the application for the issuance of the said warrant of arrest, pursuant to Section 9 of the Evidence Act, Cap. 124,” Nabisenke added.
She attached a copy of the letter from the AG chambers approving the extradition; a copy of the indictment and warrant of arrest issued against Katungi by the US; and the letter from Norbert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
In his letter dated May 18, 2026, to the Chief Magistrate, Buganda Road, Mao cleared the extradition of Katungi to the US and requested the magistrate, “to issue a warrant for the apprehension of Katungi, pursuant to Section 8 (2) of the Extradition Act, Cap, 124 to pave way for his surrender to the US.”
In his letter dated March 27, 2026, Solicitor General, Pius Biribonwoha in his letter to the DPP on his request for extradition, deportation, expulsion or lawful, removal to the US of Katungi stated, “we have considered the matter and not that the assistance may be rendered by virtue of the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance and the Extradition Act. Cap 124.”
On Monday, Katungi, a leader in the Patriotic League of Uganda, a civic organisation, was arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court following an arrest warrant issued against him on June 23, this year.
The Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ritah Newumbe Kidasa adjourned the extradition proceedings against Katungi to July 10, as the state prepares its response to the defence’s application for bail.
During the proceedings, defence lawyer Samuel Kakande argued that there is no formal extradition application before the court and that the continued detention of Katungi is unlawful.
Kakande submitted that the accused person had only been presented in court for arraignment on the arrest warrant and that the court had jurisdiction to grant him bail.
He further argued that the state’s continued objection to the bail application filed by Katungi tantamounts to a disservice to him, insisting there is no legal basis to deny him temporal release before a formal extradition request is filed.
However, chief state attorney Adrian Asingwire opposed the bail application and sought more time to respond to the defence’s submissions. She is being assisted by Chief State Attorney Joan Keko.
The court directed the prosecution to file its response by July 7, before adjourning the matter to July 10 for further hearing.
About the indictment
Katungi, together with Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, a Bulgaria-based arms dealer; Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, a Kenyan national; and Subiro Osmund Mwapinga from Tanzania, are accused of supplying arms to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). CJNG is a Mexican criminal syndicate based in Jalisco, founded and headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as El Mencho, who was killed by thenMexican Army in February this year.
The indictment, filed on April 10, 2025, in the US district Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, details a sophisticated conspiracy involving arms trafficking, drug distribution, and terrorism financing.
Katungi is said to have collaborated closely with Asumo, who specialises in bribing officials to secure false End-User Certificates and Delivery Verification Protocols (DVPs), as well as essential paperwork designed to legitimise international arms transactions.
“In and around April 2024, Katungi attended a meeting in London regarding the planned arms deal. He offered to illegally obtain firearms for future sale to the CJNG as part of a planned arms deal between the governments of Russia and Uganda,” the indictment indicates.
The indictment also states that in and around July last year, Mirchev and others exported 50 AK47 automatic assault rifles and accompanying magazines and ammunition from Bulgaria to the CJNG.
After the seizure of the weapons, Asumo obtained a DVP, purportedly signed by the permanent secretary of the ministry of defence national services of Tanzania, reflecting that the Tanzanian military had received the weapons, even though it had not.
Following this shipment, Mirchev discussed plans to supply the cartel with more devastating weaponry, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft drones and the ZU-23 anti-aircraft system, capable of firing explosive rounds designed to shoot down helicopters and other low-flying targets.
Mirchev’s arms brochure allegedly included these and other sophisticated military-grade weapons, with a proposed sale of nearly $58m (about sh206b).
Payments for these forged documents flowed through Kenyan bank accounts linked to Asumo, with tens of thousands of dollars wired from US bank accounts.
The indictment details meetings in Cape Town, South Africa and London, where the conspirators allegedly negotiated terms, discussed payment and planned future shipments, including to CJNG.
On Monday, Katungi, a leader in the Patriotic League of Uganda, a civic organisation, was arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court following an arrest warrant issued against him on June 23, this year.
The Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ritah Newumbe Kidasa adjourned the extradition proceedings against Katungi to July 10, as the state prepares its response to the defence’s application for bail.
During the proceedings, defence lawyer Samuel Kakande argued that there is no formal extradition application before the court and that the continued detention of Katungi is unlawful.
Kakande submitted that the accused person had only been presented in court for arraignment on the arrest warrant and that the court had jurisdiction to grant him bail.
He further argued that the state’s continued objection to the bail application filed by Katungi tantamounts to a disservice to him, insisting there is no legal basis to deny him temporal release before a formal extradition request is filed.
However, chief state attorney Adrian Asingwire opposed the bail application and sought more time to respond to the defence’s submissions. She is being assisted by Chief State Attorney Joan Keko.
The court directed the prosecution to file its response by July 7, before adjourning the matter to July 10 for further hearing.
About the indictment
Katungi, together with Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, a Bulgaria-based arms dealer; Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, a Kenyan national; and Subiro Osmund Mwapinga from Tanzania, are accused of supplying arms to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). CJNG is a Mexican criminal syndicate based in Jalisco, founded and headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as El Mencho, who was killed by thenMexican Army in February this year.
The indictment, filed on April 10, 2025, in the US district Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, details a sophisticated conspiracy involving arms trafficking, drug distribution, and terrorism financing.
Katungi is said to have collaborated closely with Asumo, who specialises in bribing officials to secure false End-User Certificates and Delivery Verification Protocols (DVPs), as well as essential paperwork designed to legitimise international arms transactions.
“In and around April 2024, Katungi attended a meeting in London regarding the planned arms deal. He offered to illegally obtain firearms for future sale to the CJNG as part of a planned arms deal between the governments of Russia and Uganda,” the indictment indicates.
The indictment also states that in and around July last year, Mirchev and others exported 50 AK47 automatic assault rifles and accompanying magazines and ammunition from Bulgaria to the CJNG.
After the seizure of the weapons, Asumo obtained a DVP, purportedly signed by the permanent secretary of the ministry of defence national services of Tanzania, reflecting that the Tanzanian military had received the weapons, even though it had not.
Following this shipment, Mirchev discussed plans to supply the cartel with more devastating weaponry, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft drones and the ZU-23 anti-aircraft system, capable of firing explosive rounds designed to shoot down helicopters and other low-flying targets.
Mirchev’s arms brochure allegedly included these and other sophisticated military-grade weapons, with a proposed sale of nearly $58m (about sh206b).
Payments for these forged documents flowed through Kenyan bank accounts linked to Asumo, with tens of thousands of dollars wired from US bank accounts.
The indictment details meetings in Cape Town, South Africa and London, where the conspirators allegedly negotiated terms, discussed payment and planned future shipments, including to CJNG.