News
Rwandan interpreter added to sh5.5b gold scam case
The prosecution alleges that Habineza and 64-year-old Micheal Faille committed the offence together with others in relation to the alleged gold scam.
Jean Claude Habineza appears in the dock at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on August 14, 2026. (Photo by Barbra Kabahumuza)
By: Barbra Kabahumuza, Journalist @New Vision
_______________
A Rwandan national has been added to a case in which a Canadian consultant is accused of obtaining $1.5m (about sh5.5b) by false pretence in a suspected gold scam.
Jean Claude Habineza, 43, an interpreter at Superior Courts Arizona in the United States and a resident of Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on Friday and denied the charges.
Habineza is charged with obtaining $1.5m by false pretence.
The prosecution alleges that Habineza and 64-year-old Micheal Faille committed the offence together with others in relation to the alleged gold scam.
Senior state attorney Grace Amy informed the court that investigations were complete and asked court to fix the case for hearing.
This prompted the magistrate to adjourn the case until next Thursday (August 20), for a bail hearing. Habineza was remanded to Luzira Prison until then.
Canadian national Faille was charged last month after he appeared before the same court and denied the charges.
Faille, a consultant who claimed to be a resident of Mestil Hotel in Nsambya, Makindye division in Kampala, is charged with obtaining $1.5m by false pretence.
The prosecution alleges that Faille, Habineza and others still at large, between July and October 2025, at Acacia Mall in Kampala, with intent to defraud, obtained $1.5m from Abdul Kadir Mohamed Nur by falsely pretending that they were going to facilitate the shipping of 16 tonnes of gold to Dubai, whereas not.
Faille also faces a separate charge of dealing in minerals without a mineral dealer's licence.
Canadian national Faille was charged last month after he appeared before the same court and denied the charges.
Faille, a consultant who claimed to be a resident of Mestil Hotel in Nsambya, Makindye division in Kampala, is charged with obtaining $1.5m by false pretence.
The prosecution alleges that Faille, Habineza and others still at large, between July and October 2025, at Acacia Mall in Kampala, with intent to defraud, obtained $1.5m from Abdul Kadir Mohamed Nur by falsely pretending that they were going to facilitate the shipping of 16 tonnes of gold to Dubai, whereas not.
Faille also faces a separate charge of dealing in minerals without a mineral dealer's licence.
The prosecution alleges that Faille and others still at large, between July and October 2025, in Kololo, Kampala, were found in possession of 740kg of nuggets suspected to be gold without a mineral dealer's licence.
The charges were preferred by police from the Police Mineral Protection Unit (PMPU) in Naguru, Kampala, under PMPU CRB077/2026.
Police said many of the firms under investigation were purportedly linked to large-scale scams involving billions of shillings.
The list of suspect companies was compiled following a joint operation between the PMPU and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
The ministry subsequently forwarded the names to the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines for further action, including possible revocation of licences.
Police said they had submitted the list to the commissioner of the mines department so that their licences can be reviewed, adding that investigations were going on and no final determination had been made on whether all the firms are culpable.
Police have since shut down several firms following preliminary findings, including Hawks Guard Security, Safe Security Systems and Kerlibar Logistics, Hey Transport Limited, and Midasgko Mineral Trade Ltd.
The charges were preferred by police from the Police Mineral Protection Unit (PMPU) in Naguru, Kampala, under PMPU CRB077/2026.
Police said many of the firms under investigation were purportedly linked to large-scale scams involving billions of shillings.
The list of suspect companies was compiled following a joint operation between the PMPU and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
The ministry subsequently forwarded the names to the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines for further action, including possible revocation of licences.
Police said they had submitted the list to the commissioner of the mines department so that their licences can be reviewed, adding that investigations were going on and no final determination had been made on whether all the firms are culpable.
Police have since shut down several firms following preliminary findings, including Hawks Guard Security, Safe Security Systems and Kerlibar Logistics, Hey Transport Limited, and Midasgko Mineral Trade Ltd.