Uganda Extradites Former Army Chief Confidant

Uganda has extradited a former confidant of the army chief to the United States over allegations that he conspired to supply weapons to Mexican drug cartels, Uganda’s prison service chief told AFP on Saturday.

Katungi Michael Mpeirwe was among four suspects charged by US authorities in July with conspiring to supply about $54 million worth of weapons, including to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).

US prosecutors allege that Mpeirwe and his co-accused, who are from Bulgaria, Kenya and Tanzania, planned to provide machine guns, rocket launchers and anti-personnel mines to the cartels.

They also allegedly sought to supply surface-to-air missiles, drones and anti-aircraft guns, according to US prosecutors.

Mpeirwe is a former military intelligence officer and diplomat and was a close associate of Ugandan army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whose father is President Yoweri Museveni.

Johnson Byabashaija, Uganda’s commissioner general of prisons, confirmed that Mpeirwe had been handed over to US authorities.

According to a Ugandan security source, Mpeirwe was arrested on June 27 in an upmarket area of Kampala and appeared before a court two days later.

The Ugandan judiciary announced at the end of August that his extradition was imminent.

US authorities have not yet provided details on when Mpeirwe will appear before a court in the United States.

SOURCE: AFP