A Congolese national working as a cashier for a Ugandan money remittance company has been committed to the High Court Anti-Corruption Division for trial over allegations that he brought about USD1.6 million (about Shs5.9 billion) into Uganda without declaring the cash to authorities.
Samuel Muhindo Musyenene was on Monday committed for trial by Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe after Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya told court that investigations into the money laundering case had been completed.
According to the indictment filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Muhindo allegedly entered Uganda with the money on July 4, 2026, through Kikorongo-Mpondwe in Kasese District without declaring it to the Uganda Revenue Authority as required by law.
The prosecution alleges that the USD1,596,250 exceeded the statutory threshold of 1,500 currency points, above which cross-border currency must be declared. Muhindo, a Congolese national residing and working in Uganda, is employed as a cashier by MK Cash Express Limited, a money remittance company operating as MK-Cash Point at Nakasero Complex in Kampala.
According to the prosecution, the company facilitates the transfer or transportation of money between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), serving mainly business clients from the DRC. The prosecution alleges that on July 4, security agencies conducting an operation in the Kikorongo-Mpondwe area to prevent Congolese nationals from travelling further into Uganda stopped a bus carrying several Congolese nationals, including Muhindo.
The passengers were taken to Kikorongo Police Station as arrangements were made for their return to the DRC. It was at the police station, according to the prosecution, that Muhindo disclosed that two bags in his possession contained USD1,596,250. The money was subsequently verified and exhibited by authorities. When questioned about how the money had entered Uganda, Muhindo allegedly failed to provide proof that it had been declared at the point of entry.
The prosecution says Muhindo was therefore suspected of violating mandatory currency reporting requirements under Part III of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. On July 5, Muhindo’s co-worker and supervisor, Joachim Kakule Kagheri, reportedly travelled from Kampala to Kasese to follow up on him. Kakule was also arrested, and the two were later transferred to Kampala to facilitate further investigations.
A joint team of investigators from several security agencies was subsequently constituted to establish the source of the money, its intended purpose and how it had been brought into Uganda. According to the prosecution, investigations established that Muhindo, with assistance from unidentified colleagues on the DRC side, had been used by the company to transport money into Uganda on behalf of several Congolese business people.
Investigators also established, according to the prosecution, that neither Muhindo nor his colleagues had declared the money despite its alleged value exceeding the mandatory reporting threshold. However, the prosecution’s case summary states that investigators did not link Muhindo, the money or his company to any subversive activities in Uganda. The prosecution also says investigators verified the identities of several business people who claimed ownership of the money.
Despite this, the prosecution maintains that Muhindo’s alleged failure to declare the cash constituted a breach of Uganda’s anti-money laundering requirements. Muwaganya, appearing for the DPP, consequently committed Muhindo to the High Court Anti-Corruption Division for trial, where the prosecution intends to present evidence to prove the allegations. The prosecution says it will argue that Muhindo has no valid defence to the charge and will ask the High Court to convict him.
The indictment and case summary were signed in Kampala on Monday, August 10, 2026, by Muwaganya on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Muhindo will remain on remand at Luzira Prison pending the High Court’s scheduling of the case for trial or consideration of his bail application-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
