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Fraud

Uganda's Anti-Corruption Unit Charges Kenyan National with High-Value Gold Fraud

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Authorities in Uganda have intensified efforts to combat a rising tide of gold-related scams in the country's growing minerals sector. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), has charged Elizabeth Esther Steenkamp, a Kenyan national and Managing Director of Washa Lidjiwe Investments Limited, with obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to commit a felony in a high-value gold fraud case. Steenkamp was arraigned before the Makindye Chief Magistrate's Court on Thursday and remanded until October 28, 2025. Prosecutors allege that Steenkamp conspired with others to defraud American investor Vladimir Toussaint Yvens of USD 255,650 (roughly UGX 980 million) by promising to facilitate the export of 46 kilograms of gold from Kampala to New York.

Key Takeaways:

  • Elizabeth Esther Steenkamp, a Kenyan national and Managing Director of Washa Lidjiwe Investments Limited, has been charged with obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to commit a felony in a high-value gold fraud case.
  • Steenkamp was arraigned before the Makindye Chief Magistrate's Court on Thursday and remanded until October 28, 2025.
  • Prosecutors allege that Steenkamp conspired with others to defraud American investor Vladimir Toussaint Yvens of USD 255,650 (roughly UGX 980 million) by promising to facilitate the export of 46 kilograms of gold from Kampala to New York.
  • The funds were purportedly needed for declaration fees, government royalties, and documentation, but the gold was never shipped, and communication with the complainant ceased.
  • The case comes against a backdrop of a spate of gold-related frauds in Uganda's growing minerals sector, especially in Kampala and surrounding areas.
  • Authorities have arrested seven individuals accused of defrauding a Nigerian businessman of USD 70,000 in a fake gold scheme, in which the defendants posed as gold exporters and supplied counterfeit gold bars.
  • The Anti-Corruption Unit has also recovered over UGX 900 million (approximately USD 240,000) in an eight-month crackdown on gold-related scams.
  • The cases have raised concerns about weak regulatory oversight, document forgery, and the use of shell companies to lure foreign investment.

Statistics:

  • USD 255,650 (roughly UGX 980 million) was allegedly defrauded from American investor Vladimir Toussaint Yvens.
  • Seven individuals were arrested in a separate case of defrauding a Nigerian businessman of USD 70,000.
  • Over 56 suspects in gold fraud cases had been linked to operations stretching across rentals and makeshift refineries in Kampala.
  • UGX 900 million (approximately USD 240,000) was recovered in an eight-month crackdown on gold-related scams.
  • The Anti-Corruption Unit has charged Steenkamp with obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Sources:

  • "Uganda's State House Anti-Corruption Unit charges Kenyan national in high-value gold fraud case" - unknown source, as provided in the original text.
  • "Rising Tide of Gold Scams in Uganda" - The East African, as implied in the original text.
  • "Ugandan authorities recover UGX 900 million in crackdown on gold-related scams" - unknown source, as provided in the original text.

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