A Kenyan national has been remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly defrauding an American investor of USD 255,650 (approximately UGX 896 million) in a gold export scam in Kampala, amid a wider surge in gold-related fraud cases in Uganda this year.
The suspect identified as Elizabeth Esther Steenkamp, Managing Director of Washa Lidjiwe Investments Limited, appeared before Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 17th October, 2025.
She faces charges of Obtaining Money by False Pretence and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony and will remain in custody until 28th October 2025.
Joint Investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), Criminal Investigations Directorate (CIDI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) revealed that Steenkamp, along with accomplices still at large, promised American businessman Vladimir Toussaint Yvens that they would facilitate the export of 46 kilograms of gold from Uganda to New York.
However between June and August 2025, at Plot 244 Bemba Road, Munyonyo, Makindye Division, Kampala, the suspects persuaded Yvens to remit funds to cover declaration fees, government royalties, and documentation.
Despite receiving the money, the gold was never shipped, and the suspects reportedly cut off all communication with the investor. Authorities are now pursuing the remaining suspects.
The arrest of Steenkamp highlights the vigilance of Ugandan authorities in tackling financial crimes and protecting investors.
The case also comes amid a broader increase in gold-related scams in Uganda in 2025, exposing vulnerabilities in the country’s mineral trade.
In August 2025, eight individuals, including four Congolese nationals and four Ugandans, were charged in Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court with multiple counts of fraud, illegal mineral processing, and conspiracy, linked to a fake gold scheme valued at over USD 70,000 (about UGX 249 million).
According to the Commandant of the Police Mineral Protection Unit (PMPU), ACP Julius Tusingwire, over 50 gold scam cases have been reported this year, resulting in the arrest of 56 individuals and the recovery of approximately UGX 900 million (around USD 240,000) within seven months.
Authorities have also shut down numerous illegal refineries around Kampala, often used to stage fraud operations in street corners, Airbnb apartments, and private offices.
These incidents highlight the persistent challenges within Uganda’s gold sector, emphasizing the need for rigorous regulatory oversight and vigilance by investors in high-value, cross-border transactions.
