Uganda Police have charged Lumumba Patrick Byarufu, a 35-year-old individual, with obtaining money by false pretence after allegedly defrauding a Chinese investor of USD1.25 million. The alleged offence occurred in September 2026 at Equity Bank Uganda Limited in Kampala. According to the charge sheet, Byarufu and his accomplices falsely represented that they had 44 tonnes of raw tantalite ore for sale.
The charge sheet, issued by the Police Mineral Protection Police Unit on November 3, 2026, indicates that Byarufu obtained USD1,250,952 from the Chinese national, Zhang Yu. The suspect is accused of falsely claiming to have the tantalite ore for sale. He has been charged with obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 285 of the Penal Code Act.
This is not Byarufu's first brush with the law. He was previously convicted in Kenya in June 2025 for defrauding a Chinese investor associated with Yingchen International Trade Company Limited of approximately KSh151 million. Byarufu, also known as Ulundu Patrick Lumumba and Gabriel Kulonda Ilungu, was accused of falsely claiming to supply 84 metric tonnes of tantalum/tantalite ore.
Investigators in Kenya established that containers declared to contain tantalum ore were filled with drums of sand instead. One of the containers reached China, where it was discovered to contain sand, while other consignments were intercepted at the Port of Mombasa. Byarufu had attempted to travel using alternative identification documents, including a Ugandan interstate pass and a Congolese passport.
The latest case in Uganda raises concerns about fraudulent mineral transactions targeting foreign investors and the use of multiple identities in cross-border commercial dealings. Ugandan investigators are now pursuing the September 2026 transaction involving Zhang Yu, with other alleged accomplices still at large.
Byarufu's case highlights the need for vigilance in mineral transactions and the importance of verifying the authenticity of business deals. The suspect should be presumed innocent of the Ugandan charge unless and until proven guilty by a competent court of law. He should not be confused with Kenyan Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, a prominent lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner.
The Ankole Times reports that Byarufu's latest legal troubles may be linked to his previous conviction in Kenya. The suspect's use of multiple identities and involvement in cross-border commercial dealings have raised questions about the effectiveness of current regulations and law enforcement efforts to prevent such crimes.
Key points
- Lumumba Patrick Byarufu charged with obtaining money by false pretence in Uganda.
- Byarufu previously convicted in Kenya for defrauding a Chinese investor.
- The case highlights concerns about fraudulent mineral transactions and the use of multiple identities in cross-border dealings.
