Three charged over sh1.4b fraud targeting foreign investors

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Three fraud suspects were arraigned on Friday, October 31, 2025, before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on fresh charges of electronic fraud, obtaining money by false pretences, uttering false documents, forgery, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The three were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), working closely with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).

A statement released by SHACU indicated that the accused included: Dr Charles Mulyansaka, alias Dr Muo Dickens, the alleged director of Pigeon Growers Uganda Ltd; Drake Twebaze, alias Dr John Karuhanga, and Peter Watum, purported to be representatives of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

“Between June 2023 and July 2025, Dr Mulyansaka and his co-accused are accused of obtaining $416,000 (sh1.4b) from a South African investor, Justine Stocks of M/s TMA Africa Limited, under the false pretense of securing for him a contract to supply AdBlue chemicals to the Ministry of Works and Transport, and constructing an AdBlue chemical plant in Uganda,” the statement reads.

SHACU noted that, in 2023, Dr Mulyansaka, using the false identity of Dr Dickens Muo, contacted the director of TMA Africa Ltd in South Africa via WhatsApp. He falsely claimed to be a sourcing agent seeking suppliers of AdBlue chemicals on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda. Mulyansaka then invited the investor to Uganda and scheduled meetings at private facilities, claiming they were the offices of the Ministry of Works.

During these meetings, he introduced  Twebaze and Watum as Ministry representatives. The accused informed the investors that to secure the contract, they would need to establish a locally-based company and recommended they use the services of a law firm, Bloom Advocates, to facilitate the process.

The investors subsequently paid a total of $416,000 in instalments into Bloom Advocates’ accounts, under the pretext that the funds would cover costs for needs like prequalification fees, performance security, bank charges, tax certificates, registration fees, and other related expenses.

Dr Mulyansaka Charles and Watum were remanded and are scheduled for mention on 4th July.

This will not be the first time Mulyansaka and Watum are being charged in court over fraud. In June this year,  Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court remanded four men to Luzira Prison on charges of attempting to defraud a Turkish investor of $4.9 million (approximately sh17.5 billion).

The accused included Mulyansaka, a resident of Kitala-Entebbe; Moses Mwesigwa; Moses Seruma; and Watum, who allegedly impersonated officials from the Office of the President, claiming to be members of a non-existent “Special Contracts Committee.”

The quartet appeared before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi were charged with forgery, uttering false documents, electronic fraud, and attempted felony. Prosecution told the court that the suspects used forged documents to contact Furkan Gumran, a Turkish businessman based in Dubai.

They reportedly convinced him that he had secured a $4.9 million contract through Uganda’s Ministry of Energy to supply “Bloom,” a chemical used in fuel purification. Lured by the prospects, Furkan travelled to Uganda but grew suspicious after the group kept changing meeting venues—from Parliament to AHA Towers in Nakasero.

Acting on the advice of a trusted associate, Furkan reported the matter to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, which laid a trap and arrested the suspects at AHA Towers last week. In court, it was revealed that Dr Mulyansaka, a medical practitioner, posed as the chairman of the fictitious committee.

Mwesigwa, a laboratory technician, claimed to be the Director of Procurement; Seruma introduced himself as the IT and Communications Officer; while Watum, a civil engineer, acted as the committee’s secretary. All four suspects denied the charges and were remanded to Luzira Prison until August 11, 2025, as investigations continue.