Ugandan authorities have detained Stephen Tarus, Kenya’s former Assistant Minister for Internal Security, over accusations of smuggling 13 kilograms of gold into the country using forged documents. The arrest follows a week-long investigation, with Mr. Tarus arraigned before a Ugandan anti-corruption court on Wednesday.
Mr. Tarus, who served as an assistant minister under the late President Mwai Kibaki and as Kenya’s high commissioner to Australia, faces charges related to his alleged involvement in a gold smuggling ring connected to Kampala. The accusations include the falsification of export documents, with investigations ongoing at Luzira prison until January 18.
The 57-year-old is expected to answer charges of gold smuggling, fraud, and forgery of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) documents, including a receipt claiming a $30,000 payment in Kampala for the gold’s movement.
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Uganda has been identified as a regional hub for illicit gold, often smuggled from neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Kenya. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime reports that once smuggled gold arrives in Uganda, traders often claim it as Ugandan, supported by fraudulent documentation that challenges authorities’ ability to disprove.
The ease of moving and trading gold due to insecurity in the DRC and South Sudan makes Uganda an attractive market for illicit gold. A 2017 report by the United Nations Group of Experts highlighted Uganda as a major transit route for illicit gold to international markets, including the United Arab Emirates.
As the investigations unfold, the case sheds light on the challenges posed by the illicit trade in precious metals within the region and the efforts of authorities to combat such activities.
