Police hunt Chinese supplier in counterfeit memory cards case

KAMPALA - Kampala police have launched a manhunt for a Chinese national suspected of distributing counterfeit phone accessories under the trademark “Aldeepo", following the arrest of a local dealer.

Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the arrest of Isma Sentongo, who was found in possession of 500 fake memory cards of various sizes.

Sentongo was apprehended by detectives at Central Police Station (CPS) Kampala on Wednesday at a bus terminal on Bombo Road, following a complaint from Shuiming Zhuang, the director of Eastern Dragon International, the registered owner of the Aldeepo trademark.

“Our investigations began after we received complaints from the director and workers of Eastern Dragon International. They alleged that their trademark ‘Aldeepo’—used on phone accessories like chargers, power banks, and memory cards—was being infringed upon,” said Owoyesigyire.

He added that consultations with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) confirmed Eastern Dragon International’s legal ownership of the brand.

Upon arrest, Sentongo reportedly claimed that a Chinese supplier—whose identity he declined to disclose—had given him the fake products to sell at a discounted price of shs5,000 per card.

Owoyesigyire said the counterfeit items are now being held as exhibits at CPS, pending further analysis by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

He also warned the public against buying cheap electronic items, noting they may pose serious safety risks.