By Sadique Bamwita
Kampala
The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has signed extradition papers authorizing the surrender of former Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer, Michael Katungi Mpeirwe to the United States to answer charges of drug trafficking, firearms and terrorism-related charges.
The extradition papers were signed on September 3, 2026, by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, on behalf of Ugandan government.
The move followed a request by United States government asking the government of Uganda to extradite and surrender Mpeirwe, on December 23, 2025, to stand trial before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division.
Mpeirwe is accused of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilogrammes or more of cocaine, knowing, intending or having reasonable cause to believe that the drugs would be unlawfully imported into the United States.
He is also indicted with conspiracy to possess firearms, including a machine gun and destructive device, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The third charge is conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation.
In his communication to John Alsup, the US Embassy’s point of contact and overseas criminal investigator, Minister Norbert Mao said the extradition request had been duly transmitted to the Ugandan government through diplomatic channels.
He said the government considered the request pursuant to the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Uganda’s Extradition Act.
Mao said the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Buganda Road, Kampala, which heard the extradition proceedings against Mpeirwe, found that the legal requirements for his extradition had been satisfied.
In its ruling dated August 28, 2026, the court committed Mpeirwe to prison pending an order by the minister for his surrender to the United States.
Mao said Section 12(2) of the Extradition Act, Cap. 124, empowers the minister, upon the expiry of the applicable statutory period and subject to any order of court, to issue a warrant ordering the fugitive criminal to be surrendered to a person authorised to receive him on behalf of the requesting country.
“I, Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me and pursuant to the decision and committal order of the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Buganda Road, Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, presently in lawful custody in Uganda, shall be surrendered to the Government of the United States of America to stand trial in respect of the specific offences for which his extradition was requested and authorised,” Mao said.
The minister directed the Commissioner General of Prisons, or an officer duly authorised by him, to release and hand over Mpeirwe to a person authorised by the US government to receive him.
Mao said the authorised US representative would be entitled to receive Mpeirwe, take him into custody and convey him from Uganda to the jurisdiction of the United States.
“The relevant Ugandan authorities shall facilitate the lawful transfer and surrender of Michael Katungi Mpeirwe to the duly authorised representative of the Government of the United States of America,” Mao said.
He added that the surrender would be carried out in accordance with Ugandan law, applicable extradition arrangements and any conditions governing the surrender.
