Former Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer Michael Katungi Mpeirwe has reportedly been arrested in Uganda and could soon face extradition to the United States over allegations that he participated in a multimillion-dollar international arms trafficking conspiracy linked to Mexico’s Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Security sources indicate that Katungi was arrested on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday morning, he was reportedly being held at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala, pending further legal processes following a request from U.S. authorities.
Katungi has been wanted by U.S. prosecutors since an indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia accused him and three other foreign nationals of conspiring to supply military-grade weapons to the CJNG, one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. The charges include conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, firearms offences, and drug trafficking-related offences.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, investigators allege that Katungi and his co-accused helped procure fraudulent end-user certificates that were used to disguise the true destination of military-grade weapons, including AK-47 rifles. Prosecutors further allege the conspiracy sought to facilitate the supply of heavier weaponry, including rocket launchers, anti-aircraft systems, grenades, sniper rifles and other military equipment, with contracts allegedly valued at about €53.7 million (approximately US$58 million).
The indictment alleges the weapons were intended for the CJNG, which the United States designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025. Katungi has denied wrongdoing through previous public statements, maintaining his innocence after the indictment became public.
If confirmed, his arrest would mark a significant step in the U.S. effort to bring all four suspects before an American court. Several of his alleged co-conspirators have already been arrested in other countries, with one having been extradited to the United States.
Ugandan authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the reported arrest or announced whether formal extradition proceedings have commenced. Likewise, the U.S. Department of Justice has not yet issued a public statement confirming his detention in Uganda.