By Eye Media Investigations Desk
May 27, 2025 | Kampala/Gulu
In what is shaping up to be one of the most damning exposés on Uganda’s investment climate, a Ugandan-American tech entrepreneur has come forward with harrowing details of a sophisticated scam that leveraged the names of top government and military officials—including that of Gen. Salim Saleh and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba—to extort over $21,000 from her.
Diaspora Dreams Turned Nightmare
Gloria Kamira Lukalu, founder of a U.S.-based tech firm, landed in Uganda early this year with grand ambitions: to empower youth, build innovation hubs, and partner with Operation Wealth Creation. Instead, she found herself ensnared in a web of fraud, orchestrated by individuals claiming close ties to Uganda’s power corridors.
Speaking to Eye Media in an exclusive interview, Ms. Kamira narrated a troubling sequence of events involving office rental scams, fake political introductions, forged sponsorship deals, and a failed meeting with Gen. Saleh that culminated in theft, threats, and deep emotional trauma.
The con began when Kamira was introduced to a one Ssebandeke Kiyimba Eddie, who claimed he could help her establish a business footprint. Through him, she met Asaph Nahurira, introduced as a police officer with direct links to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The duo persuaded her to become one of the sponsors of the MK Birthday Run under the guise that it would offer her “unparalleled exposure” and secure her a seat at the high table of national influence. Kamira paid the money to the duo, not knowing they were thugs. She paid ‘for branding, logistics, and transport’. But when she arrived at the event, her company had no presence, no recognition, and—critically—no access to Gen. Muhoozi. This is when should started realizing she had delt with the wrong people.
The Sylvia Owori Gulu Setup
The scam escalated in May when Kamira was introduced to Sylvia Owori, who was allegedly positioned as a powerful gatekeeper to Gen. Salim Saleh under the Operation Wealth Creation docket.
Owori, working with another man named Kirabira, reportedly demanded more money to finalize a meeting with Gen. Saleh in Gulu. Kamira was made to pay for her own flight, accommodation, and even covered entertainment for the group. But upon arrival in Gulu, she was casually told the General had “travelled to Congo.”
Kirabira and others disappeared. Personal items—including her laptop charger and camera—were stolen. When she began asking questions, the threats started.
Criminal Case Opened, Some Suspects Still at Large
Ms. Kamira filed a criminal complaint at Gulu Central Police Station under reference CRB/SD [full number withheld], where Asaph Nahurira was subsequently arrested. However, other key suspects—including Owori and Kirabira—remain at large. Sources claim some are still operating in offices linked to Gen. Saleh, raising serious questions about institutional oversight.
A Deeper Problem in Uganda’s Investment Landscape
“This isn’t just about my loss,” Kamira told Eye Media. “It’s about the culture of impunity and the reckless abuse of Uganda’s most trusted names to exploit honest investors. If this can happen to me, a Ugandan-American coming home to contribute, what message does that send to others abroad?”
Kamira’s story exposes deep fissures in Uganda’s investment environment, where criminals exploit the patriotic ambitions of diaspora investors under the cover of political influence and military associations.
A Call to Action: Will the Real General Saleh Respond?
Kamira has issued a passionate appeal to Gen. Salim Saleh, the leadership of Operation Wealth Creation, and the Uganda Police Force to investigate and publicly disassociate from these fraudsters.
“Uganda risks losing the confidence of the very people it needs most—its skilled diaspora and international investors. We cannot afford to let impersonators tarnish the country’s future,” she said.
Conclusion: Uganda at a Crossroads
Uganda is a nation brimming with promise, talent, and ambition. But if these criminal syndicates go unchecked, it risks becoming a cautionary tale for global investors.
Kamira’s voice is not one of bitterness, but of hope tempered with hard-earned wisdom. “I came to give back. I still believe in Uganda. But something must change. And it starts now.”
This case of obtaining money ($25,000) by false pretence is registered under CRB 308/2025O with Thomas Lapyem Awany as the Lawyer.
Editor’s Note: Eye Media has reached out to Operation Wealth Creation and the Uganda Police Force for official comment. We will update this story as it develops.
