Four Uganda Police Force officers have been convicted by a Police Disciplinary Court after allegedly abandoning their assigned duties to provide protection to a suspected gold-fraud syndicate accused of defrauding a Dubai-based businessman of USD4 million (about Shs15.2 billion).
The disciplinary action emerged from a wider criminal investigation into an alleged fake gold transaction involving Real Sunnex Ltd, a company police say was being used by a group of suspects to facilitate the fraudulent deal.
Police said the businessman reported the alleged fraud in July 2025, accusing Moses Asiimwe and his accomplices of obtaining USD4 million from him through a gold transaction that was allegedly fraudulent.
But the investigation took a more serious turn after police established that the same group was allegedly preparing to target the businessman again.
According to Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke, the suspects were reportedly expecting another USD4 million from the businessman under similar pretences.
“Upon further engagement with the complainant, police established that the suspects were expecting to receive an additional USD4,000,000 from the same businessman under similar fraudulent pretences,” Rusoke said.
Acting on the intelligence, joint security teams mounted an operation that led to the arrest of 16 suspects, including Asiimwe, who police identified as the alleged prime suspect.
The suspects were identified as Mibenge Rogers, Kiwanuka Edward, Kajubi Geofrey, Songole Thiery, Ajambo Bright, Mayuku Glody Mata, Nakahosa Soleina, Masaba William, Walusimbi Joseph, Ampurire Anitah, Amani Patrick, Mugoya Christian, Kagarura Dicken, Leta Grace and Mbasa Taboma.
During the operation, security teams recovered suspected counterfeit gold, documents believed to be linked to the alleged fraud and eight motor vehicles suspected of having been used in the scheme.
Police officers allegedly became protectors of the suspects
The investigation subsequently exposed an alleged breach within the security operation itself.
Police said four officers had abandoned their officially assigned beats without authorisation and instead deployed themselves to guard suspects at an illegal gold refinery where the alleged transactions were being facilitated.
The officers were identified as PC Kulutu Ayubu, PC Emorut Razak, PC Waiswa Benon and PC Waiswa Siraj.
Their alleged conduct has raised a separate security concern: whether criminal networks are exploiting serving security personnel to shield illicit operations from law enforcement.
“This is a grave breach of police discipline and professional conduct,” Rusoke said.
On August 29, 2026, the four officers appeared before the Police Disciplinary Court, where they were tried and convicted over their conduct.
PC Kulutu Ayubu and PC Waiswa Benon were recommended for dismissal from the Uganda Police Force, while PC Waiswa Siraj and PC Emorut Razak were recommended for discharge.
The disciplinary proceedings are separate from the criminal case arising from the alleged gold fraud.
Police said the four officers, alongside the other 12 suspects arrested during the operation, are being processed for criminal prosecution before the courts.
Investigation into missing millions continues
The case remains open, with investigators pursuing the wider network and attempting to establish the whereabouts of the alleged USD4 million.
“Investigations into the wider syndicate, including any other accomplices and the recovery of the defrauded funds are ongoing,” Rusoke said.
The case highlights the risks surrounding Uganda’s precious-minerals trade, where fraudulent gold transactions can involve sophisticated networks, counterfeit minerals, forged documentation and intermediaries presenting themselves as legitimate dealers.
Police urged people involved in the gold and precious-minerals trade to undertake thorough due diligence before committing funds.
Traders were advised to verify the identities and legitimacy of dealers, suppliers and gold refineries, particularly where transactions involve unusually large sums of money.
The arrests also put renewed focus on police accountability, as authorities attempt to draw a line between legitimate security work and the alleged use of uniformed personnel to facilitate criminal enterprises.
For the police, the case is therefore about more than an alleged gold scam. It is also an internal test of whether officers entrusted with enforcing the law can themselves be prevented from becoming part of the networks they are supposed to dismantle.
