Godfrey Lubowa Ssekidde
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I A man accused of masquerading as a senior Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) officer allegedly used forged government credentials to fraudulently sign a sh7 trillion defence contract with a foreign security company, in one of the country’s most elaborate impersonation and fraud schemes in recent years.
The suspect, Godfrey Lubowa Ssekidde, is accused of impersonating UPDF Major General Sam Kiwanuka and presenting himself as an employee attached to State House in order to win the confidence of foreign investors and defence contractors.
Senior security sources revealed that Ssekidde allegedly signed the controversial contract with officials from Romanian-based security and defence company Black Wolf Global (BWG) S.R.L.
The foreign victims were identified as Col. Gheorghe Rizea, the director of BWG S.R.L., and Col. Amosi Golan, the owner of the company.
Investigators say Ssekidde used forged documents and false representations to convince the foreign investors that he had the authority to negotiate and conclude military procurement deals on behalf of the Ugandan government.
BWG S.R.L. is part of the Romanian Black Wolf Group and specialises in defence consultancy, military training, and supply of specialised security equipment.
Security officials said the suspect claimed to be Maj. Gen. Kiwanuka, a senior military officer allegedly attached to State House, in order to gain credibility and access to the foreign businessmen.
The fake contract reportedly involved military-related supplies and services valued at an estimated sh7 trillion before the scheme was uncovered.
The latest revelations emerged as Ssekidde appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Wandegeya alongside Joseph Ibona, an accountant with Bloom Advocates.
The two were slapped with fresh charges including money laundering, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, uttering false documents, impersonation, and conspiracy to defraud.
Prosecutors told court that between September 2022 and May 2023, the accused and others still at large allegedly obtained $257,896 (about sh1 billion) from Namibian-based investors Etosha Defensive Systems Pty Ltd and Penda Enterprises CC through fraudulent means.
Court heard that the money was allegedly channelled through a law firm’s bank account under false claims that the accused would secure a government contract to supply army uniforms, boots, sleeping bags, and mosquito nets to the Government of Uganda.
The suspects allegedly told investors that the funds were needed to facilitate bid security payments and other disbursements required to secure contracts from the Office of the President.
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions sanctioned the charges following investigations conducted jointly with the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigations Directorate.
The accused persons were remanded until May 19, 2026.
Investigators further linked Ssekidde to an earlier fraud case in which he allegedly defrauded Sidari Limited of Kenya of $197,670 (about sh711 million) using forged documents purportedly issued by the Office of the President and the Bank of Uganda.
Last month, the UPDF publicly confirmed that Ssekidde had impersonated Maj. Gen. Sam Kiwanuka and fraudulently signed the fake multi-trillion-shilling contract with Black Wolf Global.
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