The Deputy Mufti of Uganda, Muhammad Haruna Bukenya, has been summoned to appear before Kampala City Hall Court to answer charges related to an alleged fraudulent gold deal involving $288,000 (about 1.2 billion shillings).
Senior Grade One Magistrate Edgar Karakire issued criminal summons against Bukenya on Wednesday after the prosecution requested that he be compelled to attend court proceedings.
The matter, in which businessman Muzamiru Elias Lubega is the first accused, was adjourned to November 25, 2026, for mention, and he is the only one who has appeared in court.
During the proceedings, State prosecutor Miriam Akite told the court that the prosecution was not ready to provide the requested disclosures because the file had been called by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) following a complaint by Bukenya.
Lubega’s lawyer had asked the prosecution to furnish the defence with the relevant case disclosures. However, Akite said the prosecution could not comply at that stage and instead sought an order requiring Bukenya to attend court.
In response, Magistrate Karakire directed that criminal summons be issued against the second accused.
Lubega, 53, is a businessman from Kasengejje in Wakiso District. He had previously appeared in court and was released on bail.
Bukenya, 55, is identified in the charge sheet as Uganda’s Deputy Mufti and a resident of Kawuku in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District.
According to the prosecution, the two men and other suspects who have not yet been arrested allegedly obtained $288,000 from Muhammad Kwaido on August 6, 2026, in Kampala.
The prosecution alleges that the money was obtained through a purported sale of three kilogrammes of gold, which the suspects allegedly claimed they were offering to Kwaido.
The accused face a charge of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 285 of the Penal Code Act. They are also accused of conspiring to obtain the money, an offence charged under Section 363 of the same law. The prosecution contends that the alleged scheme was intended to defraud Kwaido-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
