Magistrate to verify order halting Katungi extradition proceedings
“The proceedings can not commence before verifying the High Court order said to have stayed the proceedings,” Kidasa said.
Katungi’s lawyers led by MacDosman Kabega argued that the order stays the proceedings at Buganda Road Court pending determination of an application before the High Court.
KAMPALA - A magistrate has deferred former Lieutenant Michael Mpeirwe Katungi's extradition case to verify a court order, his lawyers say, that temporarily halts proceedings to send him to the United States to face criminal charges.
The defence lawyers told the court that the interim order was issued by Justice Simon Peter Kinobe of the High Court's Civil Division, pending the determination of an application challenging the extradition process.
Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on July 16, 2026, said she would first verify the authenticity of the interim administrative order before deciding whether to suspend the extradition proceedings.
“The proceedings can not commence before verifying the High Court order said to have stayed the proceedings,” Kidasa said.
Katungi’s lawyers led by MacDosman Kabega argued that the order stays the proceedings at Buganda Road Court pending determination of an application before the High Court.
Other defence lawyers include Frank Kanduho, Mukasa Mbidde, Samuel Kakande and Edgar Asiimwe.
The lawyers also informed court that Katungi was unable to attend the hearing because he had fallen ill while on remand at Luzira Prison.
Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Brian Tindyebwa told the court that prison officials had prepared to produce Katungi in court, but he complained of dizziness and high blood pressure after spending the previous nights in prayer.
Tindyebwa said prison authorities had formally notified the court of the inmate’s condition and requested an adjournment to allow him to receive medical treatment.
Asingwire further argued that Katungi had prior knowledge of the hearing and was adequately represented by his lawyers, making his personal appearance unnecessary for purposes of filing affidavits.
The prosecution also contended that the reported illness appeared intended to delay the proceedings, noting that Katungi allegedly spent the previous night praying before reporting that he was unwell.
In response, defence lawyer Kabega insisted that the case could not proceed in his client’s absence.
Kabega argued that criminal proceedings cannot continue in the absence of an accused person who remains in lawful custody and has not deliberately absented himself from court.
Charges
Katungi is battling the charges together with three others from Bulgaria, Kenya and Tanzania.
The three others are: Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, a Bulgaria-based arms dealer; Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, a Kenyan national, and Subiro Osmund Mwapinga from Tanzania.
The four are wanted in the US, where they face several charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilogrammes or more of cocaine, knowing or intending that it would be unlawfully imported into the US.
They are also accused of conspiracy to possess firearms, including a machine gun and 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.
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.
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, a drug cartel based in Mexico, as part of a planned arms deal between the governments of Russia and Uganda.
After the seizure of the weapons, Asumo obtained delivery verification protocols, purportedly signed by the permanent secretary for 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 allegedly 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).
Mirchev allegedly co-ordinated meetings with representatives claiming to be from the CJNG, negotiating the sale of lethal weaponry, including machine guns, rocket launchers, sniper rifles and antiaircraft systems.
Kenyan bank accounts 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.