Two Nigerians have been detained in Uganda over their alleged role in an international drug trafficking and document fraud network recently broken up by security agencies in Kampala, the country’s capital.
The arrests came after an intelligence-driven operation led by Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs through the National Citizenship and Immigration Control, working alongside other security agencies.
This was detailed in a statement released on Wednesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mundeyi Simon Peter, and shared on its X handle.
According to the ministry, the operation exposed a “sophisticated drug trafficking network operating internationally based in Kampala,” involving a Ugandan citizen and several foreign collaborators.
At the heart of the probe is a Ugandan businessman, Mr Mugisha Keith King, whom authorities linked to shell companies and multiple alleged crimes, including drug trafficking and identity fraud.
“In 2010, Mr Mugisha was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi with cocaine shipped from Brazil. He served a 12-year prison sentence in Kenya and remains an internationally wanted criminal.
“Mr Mugisha holds different passports alongside his Ugandan passport, including those from Seychelles, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Brazil, as well as national IDs of Kenya and Nigeria. He also has a fake work ID masquerading as an employee of the President’s Office,” the statement read.
Authorities also accused him of posing as government and military officials and mounting a signpost at his home labeled “Ambassador’s Residence.”
The statement further claimed that Mugisha worked with Nigerian nationals in carrying out the illegal activities, including Chekwubechukwu, identified as his spouse.
“Mr Mugisha is alleged to be coordinating these illegal activities with a group of Nigerian nationals. Of particular concern is the discovery that his spouse, a Nigerian national, Ms Ikemefuna Winner Chekwubechukwu, fraudulently acquired a Ugandan National ID under the name Mugisha Winner Chekwubechukwu with the help of Mugisha.
“She is currently on the run in Brazil.
“The Ministry also has in custody the following Nigerian associates linked to this racket: 1. Ikemefuna Testimony Udo; 2. Ikemefuna Annointing,” the statement added.
The ministry noted that additional arrests are ongoing in collaboration with international security partners.
Security operatives reportedly seized weapons and other materials during searches at the suspect’s residence and business locations, including a gun, a pistol, live ammunition, multiple passports, identity cards, military uniforms, communication devices, and allegedly forged official documents.
“The Ministry emphasizes that Uganda maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking and the misuse of military hardware,” the statement said.
It encouraged the public to report suspected drug-related activities and impersonation of security officials to the appropriate authorities, adding that investigations and immigration status checks of all foreign suspects are still underway.
The ministry also stated it will continue partnering with international agencies to track down other suspects who are still at large.
