KAMPALA – In a stark demonstration of internal accountability, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), in a joint operation with the Police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), on Thursday arraigned three of its own before the Anti-Corruption Court.
The officers, attached to the Interpol and Terrorism Tactical desk at the Busia customs office, are accused of orchestrating the escape of a key suspect in a multi-million dollar international gold scam.
The accused are: AIP Kali Godfrey, Police Constable Owiny Peter (No.48527), and Police Constable Odul Oscar (No. 47882). They face serious charges including Abuse of Office, Aiding a Prisoner to Escape, and Conspiracy to Defeat Justice.
Prosecution led by State Attorney Harriet Anena told Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro that the alleged crimes occurred between December 22 and 23, 2025, at the Uganda-Kenya border in Busia.
The court heard that the officers, while on duty, abused their authority and performed an arbitrary act by aiding the escape of Kasule Najib. Najib had been intercepted at the border and was a person of high interest to the SH-ACU.
Kasule Najib is described as a central suspect in a sophisticated international gold fraud being investigated by the SH-ACU. The scam allegedly defrauded an American national of over US$840,000 (approximately UGX 3.2 billion).
The escape of Najib, facilitated by the very officers tasked with upholding the law at a critical border point, is considered a major setback to the investigation and a grave breach of public trust.
The prosecution vehemently opposed bail, arguing that the officers, given their positions and knowledge of police procedures, posed a significant flight risk and could interfere with ongoing investigations to apprehend the fugitive, Kasule Najib.
Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro agreed with the prosecution's concerns. She remanded all three accused persons to prison until January 21, 2026, when the case will come up for mention.
The arraignment sends a powerful message about the SH-ACU's mandate to pursue corruption at all levels, even within its operational ranks. It highlights the ongoing challenges of graft within border control systems and the determination of anti-graft agencies to root out collusion between law enforcers and criminal suspects.
