A series of bombshell photographs have now emerged, unmasking the faces behind Uganda’s elusive gold syndicate.
The images, obtained by investigative sources, reveal the alleged ringleaders: one showing Emmanuel Kasirye, also known as Christian; another clearly identifying Ibrahim Sessanga; a third capturing the visage of Vian Tumukunde and Fred Ntege.
These faces are linked to a web of fraud and corruption that culminated in the jailing of police officers who had executed an arrest.
But surprisingly the criminals are out enjoying sausages and tea while Police officers are languishing in jail.
On May 9, 2025, a well-planned police operation by police officers from the Flying Squad unit in identified as Simon Owona, Plasid Mulangira, Monday, and SP James Besigye was set in motion following a tip-off regarding a fraudulent gold deal involving 971.36 grams of 93% pure gold.
The gold, allegedly processed at a clandestine facility in Kamwokya, was destined for sale to Mathiew Delip, an investor with British-Indian origins.
Officers, acting on a verified complaint from Delip and corroborated by documents such as a Safe Keeping Receipt from a security firm, apprehended two suspects in a Subaru vehicle.
However, the situation escalated when Emmanuel Kasirye alias Christian made a dramatic escape in a Mercedes Benz, prompting a shootout at a checkpoint.
The suspects later admitted under interrogation that they were involved in the gold sale, affirming that the precious metal had been deposited at a private security firm for safekeeping.
The fraudulent scheme took another twist on May 10, when the suspects, having been released on bond, filed a counter-case alleging that police had stolen the gold.
A subsequent search—in the presence of a man identified as Ibrahim Sessanga, described by multiple law enforcement insiders as a notorious figure in organized fraud—yielded no trace of the gold in the suspects’ vehicle.
In a subsequent development, the same consignment of gold was reportedly withdrawn from a Security company under the guise that it was “required for police investigations.” This maneuver evidenced by withdrawal of gold from the security company raised serious questions about accountability and the true chain of custody.
According to a senior detective who spoke on condition of anonymity, “The paper trail clearly shows that the gold was never in police hands. This is an orchestrated effort to deflect blame.”
At the heart of this controversy is Flying Squad officers; Simon Owona, Plasid Mulangira, Monday, and SP James Besigye who led the initial operation and subsequently found themselves behind bars.
Although Besigye acted in accordance with protocol—briefing his superiors and securing proper authorization—the fallout from the tangled aftermath has seen them detained at Railway Police Station without clear charges.
The officers’ predicament has sparked outrage among colleagues and human rights advocates alike, with one officer lamenting, “It’s heartbreaking to see a dedicated officer suffer while the true criminals walk free.”
While the photographs of Kasirye, Sessanga, and Vian now provide visual evidence linking them to the fraudulent gold deal, a powerful, unnamed high-ranking military General is widely believed to be shielding the syndicate.
This protection has enabled the syndicate to operate with impunity, leaving a trail of manipulated documents, bribed officials, and a tarnished justice system in its wake.
The faces behind the gold scam serve as a stark reminder of the dangerous overlap between criminality and powerful interests—an overlap that has led to one of the most troubling episodes in recent Ugandan law enforcement history.
