The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) in liaison with Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution have arraigned three fraudsters before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The accused include Charles Mulyansaka alias Dr Muo Dickens, the alleged director of Pigeon Growers Uganda Ltd, Drake Twebaze, alias Dr John Karuhanga, purported representative of the Ministry of Works, and Peter Watum, also a purported representative of the Ministry of Works.

According to State-House Anti-Corruption Unit, the accused were arraigned on charges of on electronic fraud, obtaining money by false pretence, uttering false documents, forgery, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

“Dr Mulyansaka and his co-accused are accused of obtaining USD 416,000 from a South African investor, Justine Stocks of M/s TMA Africa Limited, under the false pretence of securing him a contract to supply AdBlue chemicals to the Ministry of Works and Transport, and constructing an AdBlue chemical plant in Uganda,” the Anti-Corruption said.

It is alleged that in 2023, Mulyansaka, using the false identity of Dr Muo Dickens contacted the director of TMA Africa Ltd in South Africa via WhatsApp. He falsely claimed to be a sourcing agent seeking suppliers of AdBlue chemicals on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda.

Mulyansaka then invited the investor to Uganda and scheduled meetings at private facilities, claiming they were the offices of the Ministry of Works.

“During these meetings, he introduced Drake Twebaze alias Dr John Karuhanga and Peter Watum as Ministry representatives. The accused informed the investors that to secure the contract, they would need to establish a locally-based company and recommended they use the services of a law firm, Bloom Advocates, to facilitate the process,” SHACU added.

According to the Corruption Unit, investors subsequently paid a total of USD 416,000 in instalments into Bloom Advocates’ accounts, under the pretext that the funds would cover costs for needs like prequalification fees, performance security, bank charges, tax certificates, registration fees, and other related expenses.

The accused have been remanded to prison and are scheduled for mention on July 4, 2026.