KAMPALA, Uganda (UGNEWSLINE) – The Deputy Mufti of Uganda, Muhammad Haruna Bukenya, has been ordered to appear before Kampala City Hall Court in connection with an alleged gold scam involving $288,000 (about Shs1.2 billion).
Senior Grade One Magistrate Edgar Karakire issued criminal summons against Bukenya on Wednesday after the prosecution asked court to ensure his attendance in the proceedings.
Deputy Mufti is charged alongside businessman Muzamiru Elias Lubega and according to the summons he is supposed to appear in Court on 25 November 2926.
The summons followed submissions by State prosecutor Miriam Akite, who told court that the prosecution was not in position to provide the defence with the requested case documents.
Akite explained that the file had been called by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after Bukenya lodged a complaint. She subsequently asked court to compel the Deputy Mufti to attend the proceedings.
The request came after Lubega’s lawyer sought access to the relevant prosecution disclosures to prepare the defence. Magistrate Karakire responded by directing that summons be issued against Bukenya, who is the second accused in the matter.
Court records identify Lubega, 53, as a businessman based in Kasengejje, Wakiso District. He has previously appeared before court and was granted bail.
Bukenya, 55, is listed as a resident of Kawuku in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District.
According to the charge sheet, the two men and other individuals who are yet to be arrested allegedly received $288,000 from businessman Muhammad Kwaido in Kampala on August 6, 2026.
The prosecution alleges that Kwaido handed over the money after being led to believe that he was purchasing three kilogrammes of gold from the accused.
The suspects are charged with obtaining money by false pretence under Section 285 of the Penal Code Act. They also face a conspiracy charge under Section 363, relating to an alleged plan to obtain the money fraudulently.
Prosecutors maintain that the purported gold transaction was used to deceive Kwaido and obtain his money.
