Security agencies have dismantled a sophisticated international drug trafficking network operating in Kampala following an intelligence led operation that exposed a web of illicit drug dealing, document fraud and high level impersonation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced.
“We have successfully disrupted a well-organised international drug trafficking racket that has been operating from Kampala with links across several countries,” said spokesperson Simon Peter Mundeyi.
He added that the operation was carried out through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control in collaboration with other security agencies.
According to Mundeyi, the investigations point to a Ugandan national, Mugisha Keith King, as the central figure behind the network, working in coordination with several foreign nationals to facilitate the illegal activities.
Mugisha, a resident of Kira Municipality and proprietor of the Keith King Group of Companies, is described by authorities as a repeat offender with a long criminal record linked to drug trafficking. He was arrested in 2010 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi with cocaine trafficked from Brazil and served a 12-year prison sentence in Kenya.
“Despite his previous conviction, he continued to operate an elaborate criminal network using multiple identities and forged documentation to evade law enforcement,” Mundeyi said.
Investigations have revealed that the suspect possesses several passports from different countries including Seychelles, Eswatini, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Brazil, alongside national identification documents from Kenya and Nigeria. He was also found with a fake work identification card purporting that he is attached to the Office of the President.
Authorities further disclosed that Mugisha used deception and intimidation to sustain his operations, frequently moving in luxury vehicles fitted with illegal sirens while dressed in military-style attire to bypass security checkpoints. His residence in Nsasa was reportedly branded as an ambassador’s residence to reinforce the false image of diplomatic status.
“This individual went to great lengths to impersonate state officials and members of the armed forces to avoid scrutiny and facilitate his criminal enterprise,” Mundeyi added.
The network is believed to have been working closely with foreign associates, particularly Nigerian nationals. The suspect’s spouse, Ikemefuna Winner Chekwubechukwu, is accused of fraudulently acquiring a Ugandan national identity card with his assistance and is currently on the run in Brazil.
Two Nigerian nationals linked to the racket are in custody as security agencies intensify investigations and collaborate with international partners to apprehend other suspects still at large.
Searches conducted at the suspect’s residence and business premises yielded a cache of incriminating materials including firearms, live ammunition, multiple passports and identity cards, military uniforms and communication equipment, as well as forged official documents bearing letterheads of the Office of the President and various companies.
“We recovered weapons, military gear, forged documents and multiple identity papers, all pointing to a highly organised criminal operation,” Mundeyi said.
Authorities have since commenced a comprehensive review of the immigration status of all foreign nationals connected to the case as part of wider efforts to dismantle the entire network.
Mundeyi emphasized that Uganda maintains a firm stance against organized crime and misuse of security apparatus, urging the public to remain vigilant.
“We call upon the public to report any suspicious individuals, especially those impersonating security personnel or engaging in drug related activities. We remain committed to protecting our country from such criminal networks,” he said.
Investigations are ongoing as security agencies pursue additional suspects believed to be part of the international racket.
