Gold scams in Uganda are becoming increasingly violent, with criminals now using firearms, abductions and killings instead of relying only on fake documents to defraud buyers.
The latest case involves Jama Munyaradzi, a British-Zimbabwean national who was allegedly robbed of $600 and killed after travelling to Uganda for a gold deal.
According to documents from the Criminal Investigations Directorate and court records, Munyaradzi was introduced to Tonny Kasule, also known as Anthony, through a contact identified only as Abdullah in December 2025.
Munyaradzi reportedly wanted to buy gold worth $19,000. He later met Kasule’s associates at a hotel in Kampala.
Investigators allege that during the interactions, Kasule learnt that Munyaradzi had $4.25 million in cryptocurrency.
Suspects accused of plotting crypto robbery
Police and court documents allege that Kasule then plotted to steal the cryptocurrency.
Investigators claim he hired several people to help execute the plan. The suspects allegedly held several meetings before resolving to use force.
According to police documents, Dan Nabaasa, Paul Tasingika and others still at large were brought into the alleged plan.
On December 1, 2025, Munyaradzi was reportedly abducted from Hilton Garden Inn in Kamwokya, Kampala City.
The suspects allegedly dragged him into a vehicle and took him to a hideout. There, they reportedly tried to force him to reveal the cryptocurrency password.
Munyaradzi allegedly surrendered his passwords. However, the suspects failed to access the cryptocurrency because he was not the only signatory.
Body found at Malembo Landing Site
The suspects are accused of robbing Munyaradzi of $600 in cash before killing him.
Investigators further allege that they drove his body to Masaka City and dumped it in Lake Victoria.
On December 2, 2025, Munyaradzi’s body was found at Malembo Landing Site.
Joint investigations by police and the military led to the arrest of Kasule, Bashir Ali Mugabe, Nabaasa and Tasingika.
They were charged with aggravated robbery and the murder of Munyaradzi.
“Kasule, Mugabe, Nabaasa, and Tasingika were arrested, and they confessed to the kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and murder of Jama [Munyaradzi],” a police report stated.
The accused were later produced before the General Court Martial on murder charges and remanded to prison.
Uganda’s gold boom attracts criminals
Munyaradzi’s killing is one of several criminal cases linked to gold dealing handled by security agencies.
Uganda’s gold trade has grown into the country’s leading foreign exchange earner. In 2025, the sector generated $5.2 billion, equivalent to Shs18.9 trillion.
The growth has attracted buyers from several parts of the world. However, security agencies say criminals are also targeting people who come to Uganda to buy gold.
Last year, the Police Mineral Protection Unit investigated 135 gold-related criminal cases.
The unit recovered 3.631 kilogrammes of gold, $1.2 million, Shs190.8 million and 38 motor vehicles.
“The common offences in this category are obtaining money by false pretence, dealing in minerals without a licence, theft of gold, aggravated robbery and smuggling,” the PMPU report shows.
Security personnel named in some cases
Authorities say gold-related crimes are increasing at an alarming rate.
Some cases have allegedly involved high-profile individuals, law firms and security personnel. This makes it harder for victims to detect fraud before it is too late.
In May 2025, four Police Flying Squad Unit officers, including a Superintendent of Police, were arrested and arraigned in court.
They were accused of aggravated robbery involving gold worth $110,000 from John Vian Tumukunde at Nakawa in Kampala City on May 9, 2025.
The officers were remanded to prison, and their case is still ongoing.
In another case, police arrested a Uganda People’s Defence Forces deputy commander of a military division and his guards.
They were arrested over an alleged armed robbery and abduction of a gold dealer in Mubende District.
However, police were reportedly directed to release the suspects immediately. They were later released without charge.
Another incident happened in July 2024.
A Ugandan military diplomat reportedly sent his brother and an armed UPDF driver to Mpondwe, on the DR Congo-Uganda border, to pick up a 4.5kg gold consignment.
When they reached Mpigi District, they were allegedly intercepted by a Toyota Mark X carrying four armed men dressed in UPDF uniforms.
The armed men reportedly claimed they were carrying out an investigation.
Police initially led inquiries into the case, but the UPDF later took over the investigation.
