Two senior Congolese military officials sanctioned by the United States are allegedly operating illegal business activities in Uganda, using a Kampala-based logistics company to smuggle gold abroad, sources have revealed.
The officials—General Gabriel Amisi Kumba, Chief of General Staff of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and General John Numbi, former inspector of the Congolese National Police—were blacklisted by the U.S. government on Wednesday for their roles in undermining democracy and suppressing political freedoms in the DRC.
The U.S. Treasury, through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), announced financial sanctions against the two generals, citing their involvement in actions that “have undermined the democratic process in the DRC and suppressed political freedoms and rights of the Congolese people, potentially spreading instability in the country and more widely in the Great Lakes region.”
The sanctions mean any assets the generals hold in the United States are frozen, and American citizens and companies are prohibited from conducting transactions with them.
However, despite the sanctions, the generals are reportedly continuing their operations with impunity in neighboring Uganda.
Investigative leads indicate they are using a logistics firm based in Nakawa, Kampala, as a front to facilitate the export of smuggled gold to international markets.
The gold trade in Uganda has long been under scrutiny due to weak oversight and its connection to illicit networks across the Great Lakes region.
General Amisi, who formerly led the First Defense Zone which includes Kinshasa, is accused of using military force to block political demonstrations in the DRC. Meanwhile, General Numbi is alleged to have threatened opposition candidates during elections in March, warning them to withdraw or face deadly consequences.
The government of the DRC has remained silent on the sanctions, declining to comment when questioned on Wednesday.
The revelation of the generals’ continued activities in Uganda raises serious concerns about regional complicity and the enforcement of international sanctions. It also casts a spotlight on Uganda’s regulatory oversight and the porous nature of borders that allow sanctioned individuals to operate freely.
There has been no official statement from Ugandan authorities regarding the alleged gold smuggling ring. Human rights groups and anti-corruption watchdogs are now calling for immediate investigations and regional cooperation to curb illicit financial flows and ensure accountability.
