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UPDF officer charged over alleged Sh13b gold scam
The accused are Maj Nicholas Ntakirwa, also known as Gen James, attached to the Directorate of Operations, Land Forces; Mohammed Ali, a director of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited; and businessman Trevor Besigye.
The court, presided over by Brig. Gen. Richard Tukacungurwa, read the charges to the accused.
By: Barbra Kabahumuza, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer and two others have been charged before the General Court Martial over allegations of defrauding an investor of $2.4m (about Sh13b) in a purported gold deal.
The accused are Maj Nicholas Ntakirwa, also known as Gen James, attached to the Directorate of Operations, Land Forces; Mohammed Ali, a director of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited; and businessman Trevor Besigye.
The court, presided over by Brig. Gen. Richard Tukacungurwa, read the charges to the accused.
They face charges of obtaining money by false pretences and scandalous conduct. They were remanded until November 16, 2026.
According to the prosecution, in September 2025, Ntakirwa, allegedly aided by Ali and Besigye, presented himself as Gen James and obtained money from Ibrahim Gafar Mohammed Elsawi, an investor with MAPSCO General Trading LLC, purportedly as payment for 30kg of gold.
A release from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit issued on Oct 27 states that prosecution alleges that on September 22, 2025, the accused, together with others still at large, obtained the money from Elsawi at the offices of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited in Muyenga, Makindye Division, Kampala. SHACU also released the photographs from the court session.
They face charges of obtaining money by false pretences and scandalous conduct. They were remanded until November 16, 2026.
According to the prosecution, in September 2025, Ntakirwa, allegedly aided by Ali and Besigye, presented himself as Gen James and obtained money from Ibrahim Gafar Mohammed Elsawi, an investor with MAPSCO General Trading LLC, purportedly as payment for 30kg of gold.
A release from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit issued on Oct 27 states that prosecution alleges that on September 22, 2025, the accused, together with others still at large, obtained the money from Elsawi at the offices of Duck Hunter Security Company Limited in Muyenga, Makindye Division, Kampala. SHACU also released the photographs from the court session.
They allegedly falsely represented that they were selling and exporting 30kg of gold to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with intent to defraud the investor.
The prosecution further alleges that on September 29, 2025, the accused obtained an additional $120,000 (more than Sh500m) from the investor, falsely claiming that the money was intended for payment to the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority.
The charge of scandalous conduct against Ntakirwa relates to allegations that his conduct was contrary to the morality, order and expectations of the Code of Conduct for the Defence Forces.
The accused were arraigned following investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The prosecution further alleges that on September 29, 2025, the accused obtained an additional $120,000 (more than Sh500m) from the investor, falsely claiming that the money was intended for payment to the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority.
The charge of scandalous conduct against Ntakirwa relates to allegations that his conduct was contrary to the morality, order and expectations of the Code of Conduct for the Defence Forces.
The accused were arraigned following investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.