Police in Arua City, nothern Uganda, have arrested six Congolese nationals suspected to be involved in the selling of counterfeit United States dollars ($) in the region.
The six suspects were arrested on August 29, 2025, after authorities got intelligence information that they were in volved in the illicit activity.
According to police spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke, the officers set a trap that led to the arrest, and the recovery of counterfeit dollar notes amounting to 300,000 US dollars, sealed in bundles of $100,000.
The suspects arrested include; Minike Dudu, Mumbere Asiha, Akwinza Dudu Mitira, Shadrak Kaputara, Jean Pierre Hassan, and Musa Ahmed.
Additionally, during the search, 12 rolled sticks of marijuana were found. The six Congolese nationals remain in custody pending investigations.
Rusoke says they suspect the fake dollar notes could have been printed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the suspects wanted to distribute them in Arua.
Coincidence or fake cash racket?
The recent arrest of six Congolese nationals in Uganda for possessing counterfeit U.S. dollars valued at over KSh38 million adds to a growing list of similar incidents in Uganda, and the neighbouring Kenya.
And in what points at a possible fake cash racket operating within East African region, detectives in Nairobi, Kenya arrested two women in possession of substantial quantities of counterfeit US dollars.
In striking coincident, the same day Uganda police were making the arrest of the six Congolese was the same day Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sleuths were apprehending the two women – Ifrah Ali Jeyte and Qamar Salat Abdi.
Upon a quick search in the house, the detectives revealed numerous bundles of 100 USD denomination notes cleverly concealed in a handbag.
“The extent of their operation became evident when officers conducted a count of the counterfeit currency at DCI Nairobi Area Headquarters, uncovering a total of USD 560,000, equivalent to approximately KSh70 million,” the DCI said.
Both suspects remain in custody, undergoing processing as detectives prepare for their impending arraignment.
These cases highlight the persistent challenge of counterfeit currency infiltrating the Kenyan and Ugandan economy, often originating from neighboring countries like DRC.
