By Robert Segawa
A South African businessman has allegedly been defrauded of more than USD 103,000 (about Shs360 million) in a fake gold deal in Kampala.
According to the Police Minerals Protection Unit, Mr. Attlee Shaun Robert Lloyd, a South African national, was reportedly conned out of USD 103,050 in a purported gold transaction. The case was officially reported to police on May 19, 2026.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the complainant was introduced to individuals operating under the company name Huanqui Precious Metal Trading Limited, located in Buziga, a suburb of Kampala in Makindye Division.
Mr. Lloyd was allegedly promised the sale and export of gold to Dubai.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said the complainant made several payments to facilitate insurance, taxes, and logistics for the shipment. However, the gold was never delivered, and repeated demands for additional money raised suspicion, prompting him to report the matter to police.
Police later conducted a search at the company premises and recovered several exhibits, including suspected gold bars and nuggets, a motor vehicle, passports, identification cards, a precious metals analyzer, and assorted documents.
Owoyesigyire further revealed that four suspects: Ogwang Edson, Safari Ronald, Karumba Joseph, and Opio Jacob have been arrested and are currently in custody to assist with investigations.
Samples of the recovered metallic substances have since been submitted to the Government Analytical Laboratory in Entebbe for examination. Police have also contacted the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to verify the company’s registration and licensing status.
“We are going to trace and arrest other suspects, recover the complainant’s money, and establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraud to support investigations,” Owoyesigyire said.
