A 36-year-old man, identified as Kenneth Nkurunugi, a retired Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier, was detained by the police in Kampala, Uganda, on October 12, 2023, after being found in possession of counterfeit US Dollars with a total value of $40,000. Nkurunugi, who had previously served in the UPDF and was currently working as a military trainer in Juba, South Sudan, was apprehended at Namayiba Bus Terminal in Old Kampala during a police operation led by Old Kampala Police.
Nkurunugi, a resident of Rukungiri, had initially returned to Uganda for a vacation on August 19, 2023, with intentions of returning to Juba on September 19, 2023. However, he extended his stay in Uganda.
The operation that led to Nkurunugi’s arrest was initiated based on credible intelligence about an individual carrying a small box containing counterfeit US Dollars worth $40,000. According to Mr. Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, Nkurunugi claimed that the counterfeit currency package was meant to be transported to Juba via Classic Bus. He stated that he had been contacted by Musa Adam, a Juba resident, who instructed him to meet an unidentified individual in town on October 12, 2023, who would provide him with the package.
The exchange took place near Total Katwe, close to BMK House, where Nkurunugi received the sealed box. He subsequently handed it over to Classic Bus staff at Namayiba Bus Terminal before departing. However, he was later summoned to retrieve the package, only to discover that it had been left behind by the bus. It was at this point that police intervened, leading to his arrest.
Upon examination, it was confirmed that the money in the box was counterfeit black dollars, totaling $40,000. The police are actively investigating the case, and further details will be provided as the investigation progresses, as noted by Mr. Owoyesigyire.
