Top UPDF Officer Remanded Over Shs13 Billion Gold Scam

A senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer attached to the Directorate of Operations, Land Forces, has been remanded to military custody over allegations of orchestrating a massive gold scam targeting a foreign investor.

Major Nicholas Ntakirwa, who allegedly went by the alias “Gen James” (Service No. RO/10262), appeared before the General Court Martial sitting in Makindye, Kampala. He stood alongside two other co-accused individuals to face serious charges related to defrauding the investor of approximately Shs13.5 billion in a fraudulent gold transaction.

During the court session, the suspects formally denied the charges brought against them. Following their plea of not guilty, the military court ordered that they be remanded as legal proceedings continue.

Such high-profile financial scams targeting foreign nationals undermine confidence in the country’s mineral sector and draw intense scrutiny from security and anti-corruption agencies. The involvement of active-duty military personnel further highlights the gravity of the offenses being handled by the military justice system.

For more details on this developing legal case, read the Daily Monitor.