Retired UPDF soldier Katungi remanded over alleged arms, drug trafficking
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.
Lt Michael Katungi Mpeirwe is wanted in the US, where he faces several charges. (File photo)
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A retired Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces soldier, Lt Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, has been remanded to Luzira Prison, pending hearing of proceedings seeking to have him extradited to the US to face criminal charges involving drugs and arms trafficking.
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 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 local civic organisation, was arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court following an arrest warrant issued against him on June 23, 2026.
The Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ritah Newumbe Kidasa yesterday adjourned the extradition proceedings against Katungi to July 10, 2026, as the state prepares its response to the defence’s application for bail.
During the proceedings, defence lawyer Samuel Kakande argued that there is no formal extradition application before the court and that the continued detention of Katungi was unlawful.
“There is no formal extradition application before the court and, therefore, Katungi should not continue to be held on remand,” the lawyer argued.
He further argued that the State’s continued objection to the bail application filed by Katungi tatamounts to a disservice to him, insisting there is no legal basis to deny him temporal release before a formal extradition request is filed.
However, Chief State Attorney Adrian Asingwire opposed the bail application and sought more time to respond to the defence’s submissions. Asingwire is being assisted by Chief State Attorney Joan Keko.
The court directed the prosecution to file its response by July 7, before adjourning the matter to July 10 for further hearing.
About the indictment
The indictment, filed on April 10, 2025, in the US district Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, details a sophisticated conspiracy involving arms trafficking, drug distribution and terrorism financing.
According to court documents, Katungi served as a policy advisor in the Ugandan government and previously worked as deputy head of mission and security logistics officer with the African Union Commission.
He is said to have collaborated closely with Elisha Asumo, a Kenyan national who specialises in bribing officials to secure false EUCs and DVPs, as well as essential paperwork designed to legitimise international arms transactions.
“In and around April 2024, Katungi attended a meeting in London regarding the planned arms deal. He offered to illegally obtain firearms for future sale to the CJNG, a drug cartel based in Mexico, as part of a planned arms deal between the governments of Russia and Uganda,” the indictment indicates in parts.
The indictment also states that in and around July last year, Mirchev and others exported 50 AK47 automatic assault rifles and accompanying magazines and ammunition from Bulgaria to the CJNG.
After the seizure of the weapons, Asumo obtained a DVP, 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 sale of lethal weaponry, including machine guns, rocket launchers, sniper rifles and antiaircraft systems.
Kenyan bank accounts 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.