In a case that has raised serious concerns over the integrity of Uganda’s law enforcement and the reach of criminal networks, Uganda Police officers attached to the Flying Squad Unit have been arrested and detained under controversial circumstances, 10 days after leading an operation that disrupted a suspected gold fraud syndicate in Kampala.
According to documents reviewed by this publication and interviews with multiple law enforcement sources, the officers, identified as Simon Owona, Plasid Mulangira, Monday, and SP James Besigye carried out a sanctioned operation on May 9th targeting a group of individuals accused of attempting to defraud a foreign investor of over $1.3 million in a shady gold deal.
The operation was triggered by a complaint from Mathiew Delip, an Indian national of British origin and director of Ariamal Trading Company. Delip, in a recorded statement to police, alleged that he had been lured into a fraudulent transaction involving 971.36 grams of gold with 93% purity at Plot 85, Kamwokya.
“I was taken to a processing location by individuals claiming to be gold dealers. The gold was shown to me, but documents like the assay report were suspiciously missing,” Delip told police investigators, adding that he was later informed the gold had been deposited at a private security firm.
ARRESTS
Shortly after the alleged deal, two of the suspects — Vian Tumukunde and Fred Ntege — were arrested in Mbuya as they drove a Subaru vehicle with registration number UBQ 520W.
A third suspect, later identified as Emmanuel Kasirye alias Christian, fled the scene in a Mercedes Benz SSD 050CX, reportedly nearly knocking down officers in the process.
The vehicle was shot at, and Kasirye managed to escape.
The suspects were taken into custody at CID Kireka, where they allegedly confessed to having been involved in a gold transaction.
They also claimed that the gold had been stored at Scorpion Security Company in Mbuya, a private security firm, for safe keeping.
A copy of the Safe Keeping Receipt (SKR), seen by this website, shows a deposit made just hours before the arrests.
However, things took an unexpected turn.
On May 10th, in the presence of a man identified as Ibrahim Sessanga, described by multiple police sources as a known fraudster, officers searched the suspects’ vehicle — but no gold was found.
Sessanga claimed to be the owner of the gold and demanded the release of the suspects, who were later granted bond.
That same evening, the suspects opened a counter-case of aggravated robbery against the officers at Jinja Road Police Station under CRB 362/2025.
Sources within Police say the move was “strategic” — designed to flip the narrative and undermine the original operation.
“The SKR showed clearly that the gold was deposited by the suspects. The idea that the arresting officers stole the gold doesn’t make sense,” one senior detective told this paper on condition of anonymity. “It seems to be a classic case of power shielding crime.”
The Gold is Quietly Withdrawn
Even more troubling, on May 11th, the suspects reportedly returned to Scorpion Security and withdrew the same consignment of gold, this time citing “police investigations” as the reason. A new SKR with this note, also seen by this publication, raises eyebrows. Why was the gold not handed over to police?
Investigators later visited the security firm on May 15th and obtained records confirming the gold’s withdrawal. Despite this paper trail, no action has been taken against the suspects.
“We are dealing with something bigger than fraud. There are individuals in this country who can stop cases with a phone call,” sources said, pointing to what they described as ‘deep interference’.
Cops jailed
Meanwhile, Besigye and his colleagues who led the original operation, were arrested and is now held at Railway Police Station, reportedly without formal charges. According to a confidential internal police memo dated May 12th, Besigye who led the team had informed his superiors prior to the operation, and received a green light to proceed.
His colleagues describe him as “an honest officer being punished for doing his job.”
“It’s demoralizing. These cops followed the procedure, made arrests, reported everything to the chain of command. But now they are being treated like a criminals,” said an official in Police.
Adding that the officers are facing a wrath of a high-ranking military General who would claim ownership of the gold.
However, the Police top official couldn’t divulge details of this soldier.
Money and Intimidation
Investigators say that the case has been stifled by both financial inducements and fear. One senior source at Police estimates that over shs 100 million has allegedly been paid to various officials to frustrate the investigation and build a false robbery case against the cops.
Despite clear evidence linking the suspects to the gold — including the initial deposit slip and vehicle records — the case appears to be dying a slow, deliberate death.
What Next?
With Police Officers still in detention and no charges preferred against the real suspects, this case raises uncomfortable questions about the rule of law, the independence of Police investigations, and the vulnerability of honest officers when crime enjoys powerful protection.
