Minister Mao authorises Katungi’s extradition to US
In a letter dated September 1, Mao directed that Katungi be surrendered to the Government of the United States of America to stand trial for the specific offences for which his extradition was requested and authorised.
Mao (R) said the authorised representative of the US Government receiving Katungi (L) under the extradition warrant would be entitled to receive him, take him into custody and convey him from Uganda to the US, in accordance with Section 12(3) of the Extradition Act.
KAMPALA - Justice and constitutional affairs minister Norbert Mao has authorised the extradition of former UPDF officer Michael Mpeirwe Katungi to the United States, where he is wanted to face charges related to alleged drug and arms trafficking.
In a letter dated September 1, Mao directed that Katungi be surrendered to the Government of the United States of America to stand trial for the specific offences for which his extradition was requested and authorised.
“The Commissioner General of Prisons or any officer duly authorised by him shall release and deliver Katungi into the custody of the person duly authorised by the Government of the US to receive him,” the letter reads in part.
Mao said the authorised representative of the US Government receiving Katungi under the extradition warrant would be entitled to receive him, take him into custody and convey him from Uganda to the US, in accordance with Section 12(3) of the Extradition Act.
He further directed the relevant Ugandan authorities to facilitate the lawful transfer and surrender of Katungi to the duly authorised representative of the US Government.
The minister’s decision follows an August 28 judgment by Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa, who ordered that Katungi remain on remand pending the minister’s decision on his surrender.
Katungi is wanted in the US, where he faces several charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilogrammes or more of cocaine, knowing or intending that it would be unlawfully imported into the US.
He is also accused of conspiracy to possess firearms, including a machine gun and a destructive device, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, as well as conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation.
Katungi, a former leader in the Patriotic League of Uganda, a civic organisation, is facing the charges alongside Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, a Bulgaria-based arms dealer; Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, a Kenyan national; and Subiro Osmund Mwapinga from Tanzania.
Indictment
The indictment also states that, in and around July last year, Mirchev and others exported 50 AK47 automatic assault rifles, accompanying magazines and ammunition from Bulgaria to the CJNG, a drug cartel based in Mexico, as part of a planned arms deal between the governments of Russia and Uganda.
After the seizure of the weapons, Asumo obtained delivery verification protocols, purportedly signed by the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Defence National Services of Tanzania, reflecting that the Tanzanian military had received the weapons, even though it had not.
Following this shipment, Mirchev allegedly discussed plans to supply the cartel with more devastating weaponry, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft drones and the ZU-23 anti-aircraft system, capable of firing explosive rounds designed to shoot down helicopters and other low-flying targets.
Mirchev’s arms brochure allegedly included these and other sophisticated military-grade weapons, with a proposed sale of nearly $58m (about sh206b).
Mirchev allegedly co-ordinated meetings with representatives claiming to be from the CJNG, negotiating the sale of lethal weaponry, including machine guns, rocket launchers, sniper rifles and anti-aircraft systems.
Payments for these forged documents flowed through Kenyan bank accounts linked to Asumo, with tens of thousands of dollars wired from US bank accounts.
The indictment details meetings in Cape Town, South Africa, and London, where the conspirators allegedly negotiated terms, discussed payment and planned future shipments, including to CJNG.