Nigerian businessman scammed out of $70,000 in fake gold deal
Story by Susan Mbamah
Ugandan authorities have apprehended seven individuals, four from the Democratic Republic of Congo and three from Uganda, for allegedly swindling a Nigerian businessman out of $70,000. The group was arrested in connection with a fake gold transaction.
The suspects are identified as Paluku Kisasi, Safari Akonkwa, Isaac Mpende, Abdul Madjid Kahirima, Mabwongo Prince, Kajjubi Tevin Kyome, and Tibasiima Barbra (also known as Katushabe Sharon). The arrests were made by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) with assistance from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
According to Bamwiine Muhorozi, a senior officer with the SH-ACU, the group pretended to be representatives of Legacy Refinery Limited and Emerod Agency Limited. They claimed they could provide seven kilograms of gold to Nigerian businessman Mark Gbillah.
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“They were arrested during a controlled meeting we arranged with the victim, just before they could extort more money,” Muhorozi stated on Tuesday.
A subsequent search of the suspects’ apartment in Muyenga, Kampala, led to the discovery of 150 kilograms of counterfeit gold bars and fake gold nuggets. These items were allegedly used to deceive other potential investors.
This incident is the latest in a series of similar gold scams in East Africa.
Earlier this year, a Turkish investor lost $150,000, and another businessman was defrauded of $105,000 in a fake 20-kilogram gold deal in 2024. Reports indicate that between early 2021 and March 2022, fraudulent gold syndicates in Uganda and Kenya scammed investors out of over $25 million.
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Muhorozi described this case as “significant” because the suspects were caught in the act. He advised all potential investors to verify mineral transactions with the proper authorities and report any suspicious activity immediately. The suspects are scheduled to appear in court soon.
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