A sense of dread and uncertainty looms over Kampala as security agencies investigate the shocking abduction of Congolese businessman Prince Tony Mola Bokanga and the theft of 100kg of gold worth Sh31.2 billion.
Bokanga was kidnapped on Sunday evening in Busega after being trailed by armed men who intercepted his vehicle. According to reports, he was forcibly removed from his car before the assailants disappeared without a trace.
The attackers, whose identities remain unknown, also seized a substantial gold consignment he had brought for clients in Kampala. Since then, there has been no sign of Bokanga—no ransom demand, no leads, only silence.
His family, overwhelmed with fear, reported the case to Busega Police Station on Tuesday under reference number GEF 12/2025.
Investigations reveal that Bokanga had entered Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier that day, crossing the Bwera border in Kasese district.
Eyewitnesses describe a chilling scene: a white, tinted drone vehicle abruptly intercepted Bokanga’s car, and masked men dragged him out, along with a bag believed to contain the gold.
In a calculated move, the assailants ignored other passengers in the vehicle—Bokanga was their sole target.
He had been driving a Toyota Alphard, transporting gold meant for Romanian and Dutch clients when his journey took a sinister turn.
The scale of the crime is staggering. At an international market rate of $85,309 per kilogram, the stolen 100kg of gold is valued at over $8.5 million (Sh31.2 billion).
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango acknowledged the case, stating:
“We will review road surveillance footage to establish what happened, but I urge his relatives and friends to cooperate with us in the search.”
Meanwhile, Julius Caesar Tusingwire, commandant of the Mineral Protection Unit, distanced his team from any involvement, urging the family to engage formally with the police in their desperate search for answers.
A Troubled Industry
This is not the first time gold has disappeared under violent circumstances.
In a similarly grim episode last July, a shooting at Buddo Junction in Wakiso district left two people dead—Evelyne Nalumansi Katende, a Uganda Revenue Authority official, and Pte Lawrence Ekirap, a Uganda People’s Defence Force soldier.
The attack, later linked to a dispute over 4.5kg of gold worth Sh1.3 billion, revealed the deadly risks surrounding Uganda’s gold trade.
Uganda has long battled allegations of gold smuggling. In 2017, the United Nations Security Council called for greater transparency among Kampala’s gold exporters after reports surfaced that traders were sourcing smuggled gold from DR Congo.
Despite its murky underbelly, gold remains a cornerstone of Uganda’s economy. In October last year, gold exports earned the country $317.76 million (Sh1.16 trillion), though the figure later dropped to $268 million (Sh984.9 billion) in November.
For now, as days pass without any sign of Bokanga, his family clings to hope amid a growing void of uncertainty. A man has vanished, a fortune has been stolen, and the truth remains shrouded in mystery.
