FRAUD ALERT! Two Remanded Over $4.95 Million Fake Chemical Supply Deal

By Frank Kamuntu

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has further remanded Dr. Mulyansaka Charles and Watum Peter over their alleged involvement in a sophisticated USD 4.95 million (UGX 18.5 billion) fraud scheme linked to a fake chemical supply deal to government ministries.

The duo appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday and were charged with electronic fraud, obtaining money by false pretences, uttering false documents, forgery, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID), the suspects are part of a larger criminal syndicate that attempted to defraud a Turkish investor, Mr. Furkan Gumran, and his company, SIRUS BLUE CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING CO., LTD, through a bogus transaction to supply AD BLUE Solution—a chemical used to reduce carbon emissions in diesel engines—to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Bogus “Special Contracts Committee”

Investigations conducted jointly by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (@AntiGraft_SH), CID (@CID1_UG), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (@ODPPUGANDA) revealed that the group presented themselves as members of a non-existent “Special Contracts Committee” operating under the Office of the President.

The suspects allegedly held the following false titles:

1. Dr. Mulyansaka Charles – Chairman

2. Mwesigwa Moses – Director of Procurement

3. Seruma Moses – Communication/IT Specialist

4. Watum Peter – Secretary

Authorities said the group forged documents, complete with fake stamps and letterheads purporting to originate from the Office of the President, claiming to be overseeing the procurement of the USD 4.95 million AD BLUE Solution on behalf of the government.

The suspects were intercepted on July 22, 2025, before the fraudulent transaction could be completed.

The four suspects were charged with forgery, uttering false documents, attempting to commit a felony, and electronic fraud.

Two of them — Dr. Mulyansaka and Watum — were presented before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court, which remanded them until October 29, 2025, as investigations continue. The others, Mwesigwa Moses and Seruma Moses, were earlier remanded until August 11, 2025, following their arraignment.

The Anti-Corruption Unit said investigations have since expanded to identify and arrest other individuals connected to the network, which is believed to have targeted several government ministries and international investors through similar fraudulent procurement schemes.

Officials from the Office of the President have distanced themselves from the so-called “Special Contracts Committee,” describing it as a complete fabrication.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit commended the swift coordination between agencies in foiling the scam and preventing the loss of millions of dollars.

“This operation demonstrates the government’s resolve to protect investors and safeguard the integrity of public procurement processes,” an official from the unit said.

The case highlights the growing sophistication of white-collar crime in Uganda’s procurement sector, where fraudsters increasingly exploit official seals, digital tools, and forged correspondence to target both public institutions and foreign investors.

Dr. Mulyansaka, Watum, and their co-accused remain on remand as investigations continue and more arrests are expected in the coming weeks.