GOLD FRAUD SHOCK! Shady Gold Firm Real Sunex Boss Moses Asiimwe, Dickens Kagarura Accused of Scamming Dubai Investor Shs14.8bn, 16 Arrested, 4 Cops Fired

KAMPALA: A multi-billion-shilling gold fraud syndicate has been smashed in Kampala after a Dubai businessman was allegedly conned out of US$4 million (about Shs14.8 billion) in a fake gold deal, with 16 suspects arrested and four police officers dismissed from the force for allegedly guarding the illegal operation.

The dramatic crackdown followed a complaint lodged last month by the Dubai businessman, whose identity has been withheld, at the Minerals Police Unit in Naguru.

The complainant told police that Moses Asiimwe and his associates, operating under Real Sunex Limited, had fraudulently obtained US$4 million from him through a bogus gold transaction.

But detectives say the alleged fraudsters were not done.

After engaging the complainant, police reportedly discovered that the suspects were preparing to receive another US$4 million (about Shs14.8 billion) from the same investor using a similar fraudulent arrangement.

This prompted a joint intelligence operation involving the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), leading to the arrest of 16 members of the alleged syndicate from different parts of Kampala.

The suspects have been identified as Moses Asiimwe, Rogers Mibenge, Edward Kiwanuka, Godfrey Kajubi, Thiery Songore, Bright Ajambo, Grody Matta Mayuku, Soreina Nakahose, William Masaba, Joseph Walusimbi, Anita Ampurire, Patrick Amani, Christian Mugoya, Dickens Kagarura, Grace Letta and Taboma Mbasa.

Security operatives also recovered a haul of exhibits allegedly linked to the operation, including fake gold, incriminating documents and eight vehicles suspected to have been used in the scam.

But the investigation took another shocking turn when police discovered that four of their own officers had allegedly abandoned their official duties and joined the syndicate.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the four officers had allegedly withdrawn from their areas of deployment without authorisation and deployed themselves to guard the suspects at an illegal refinery where the alleged gold fraud operation was being conducted in Kampala.

The officers, all Police Constables, were identified as Ayub Kurut, Emorat Raazak, Benon Waiswa and Waiswa Siraje.

The four were over the weekend dragged before the Police Disciplinary Court, where they were tried, convicted and dismissed from the force pending criminal proceedings.

“The officers allegedly withdrew from their respective areas of deployment without authorization and deployed themselves in support of the gold fraud syndicate, which is a grave breach of the police professional standards code of conduct,” Rusoke said.

“On Saturday they were subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings, they were tried, convicted and sentenced to dismissal from the force.”

Rusoke said the four dismissed officers, together with the 12 other suspects, will face criminal trial.

The shocking case has once again raised concerns about the infiltration of criminal networks into security institutions, particularly in the lucrative gold and precious minerals trade.

Police have warned people involved in gold and other precious minerals transactions to carry out thorough verification of dealers before committing huge sums of money.

Rusoke said some people in the precious minerals business operate underground in pursuit of quick and huge profits, only seeking police intervention after they have been defrauded.

“One of the challenges we have found and the briefing we are getting from the mineral police is that most of the people engaged in dealing in precious minerals have a tendency of doing things underground, wanting quick money, pursuing things which are highly profitable but operating in the dark, and when they get into trouble they come to us panicking looking for justice,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have also arrested three men in Entebbe who allegedly impersonated police officers in an attempt to rob a foreign investor.

The Counter-Terrorism Police in Entebbe arrested the suspects over the weekend after they allegedly dressed in civilian clothes, claimed to be police officers and stormed the foreigner’s apartment.

The trio reportedly demanded the investor’s passport and an unspecified amount of money.

Their alleged operation was cut short after the investor’s roommate alerted the Counter-Terrorism Unit, which responded and arrested the suspects.

Police said the suspects were found in possession of warrant cards.

They have been identified as Osire John Piaus, Girengero Piaus and Julius Emogu, who are currently detained in Entebbe.

Preliminary investigations have reportedly linked the trio to two other incidents targeting tourists and Indian nationals in Kitooro and Manyago, Entebbe.

Police allege that the group targeted foreign nationals in areas frequented by tourists, using forged security documents to facilitate robberies.

The latest arrests have also revived concerns about the vulnerability of some police officers to criminal networks.

Police sources have previously pointed to poor pay, weak supervision and institutional gaps among factors that can expose officers to criminal syndicates.

Police constables reportedly earn about Shs470,000 to Shs500,000, while criminals involved in lucrative fraud operations can allegedly offer between Shs2 million and Shs5 million to officers willing to provide protection.

The authorities have previously dealt with similar cases involving officers accused of aiding gold fraudsters.

In January 2025, three officers attached to Interpol and Counter-Terrorism at Busia—Godfrey Kali, Peter Owiny and Oscar Odul—were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly aiding the escape of gold scam suspect Najib Kasule.

Kasule was accused of defrauding an American national of US$840,000 (about Shs3.1 billion) and had reportedly been intercepted at the Uganda-Kenya border.

In another case in May 2025, four officers attached to the Flying Squad Unit in Kireka—James Besigye Kiguuya, Simon Owona, Pracid Mulangira and Monday Tibaijuka—were remanded to Luzira Prison by the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court.

They were accused of robbing businessman John Vian Tumukunde of 1kg of gold valued at US$105,000 (about Shs388.5 million) and US$1,000 (about Shs3.7 million) in cash at gunpoint along Solent Avenue in Nakawa Division.

The latest Real Sunex investigation has therefore put the spotlight once again on Uganda’s gold trade, with police warning investors and dealers to verify transactions and counterparties before handing over millions of dollars.